Wigan Athletic would like to announce the creation of their disabled supporters group Wigan Athletic Disabled Supporters Association (W.A.D.S.A.)

The JJB boasts some excellent facilities for disabled fans, but can of course be even better by leaning from experience and improving consultation with disabled supporters.

W.A.D.S.A. currently consists of twelve Wigan Athletic supporters, who are volunteering their time to help and work with Wigan Athletic Football Club to improve the match day experience for disabled supporters and set new standards to promote an inclusive approach that ensures a parity of experience for all supporters both home and away.

Their activities will use the framework provided by the National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS), which include:

-  Voicing the views and concerns of :-

        - Supporters with sensory impairment i.e. those with hearing loss or visual impairment
        - Supporters who are wheelchair users
        - Supporters with learning difficulties
        - Supporters with walking or mobility difficulties

As well as other issues, such as:

· Working with Wigan Athletics' Disability Liaison Officer on the creation of disability policies and future plans & training.

· Assist the Club to work towards a fully accessible information service in alternate formats for disabled and blind supporters.

It represents another step in Wigan Athletic's commitment to continuous improvement to help make the JJB a flagship facility in every respect.

On hearing about the creation of W.A.D.S.A, Wigan Athletic Manager Steve Bruce said,

'All the management staff at Wigan Athletic appreciate the tremendous backing our supporters give us particularly those with a disability and the great lengths they go to to see us play home and away, We hope the formation of the Supporters group will make their journeys to watch us easier and the experience even better."

Also Club Captain Mario Melchiot expressed his view on the new group, '.Its great news all the players wish the SupportersAssociation every success, we need your backing home and away"

A spokesperson from W.A.D.S.A. said, 'Our first task is to make contact with all our disabled supporters, so that we can identify what their needs are.We really feel optimistic that we can improve our supporter's football experiences.'

The W.A.D.S.A will shortly be making contact with all Latics' Disabled Supporters, through the club website and programme.