By The MKDSA Media Team
MKDSA Disability Officers Jo & Jeff Newall
Ed’s intro In a new series we’re going to introduce you to the hard working volunteers of the MK Dons Supporters Association. People who give their free time up to represent you and hopefully make your experience being an MK Dons as positive and enjoyable as they can (although they arent responsible for results on the pitch).
So we start our new feature with Jo and Jeff. We find out a little bit about them and what they do on the committee. This is long, Jo is a woman with a big heart for both Jeff and her MK Dons and she’s got a lot to say so its already turning into mini series to make it easier.
“Who are you?”
For those who have not had the pleasure of Jeff’s white cane and Jo “who sits where she wants” in her green powerchair at home and away games, this is what they have previously said about themselves:
“Between us we have over 100 years lived experiences of physical, sensory and hidden disabilities and it seems as many years of challenging disability discrimination. We have been season ticket holders since the stadium opened and since 2010 we have gone to almost every Dons away game, travelling in the accessible mini bus that is part of the official away travel.
We are passionate that all disabled fans should be able to go to footy without hassle, something that sadly all too often does not happen and are 100% committed to doing all we can to bring this about, for both home and away fans at Stadium MK and at away grounds which Dons fans visit. We are active members of Level Playing Field, the national charity that represents disabled sports fans and through this, we are able to get ideas and support from our contemporaries at other Clubs.
What have you two been up to recently in your MKDSA role?
Blue Badge Parking
Given how determined the Club seemed to be to introduce charges for Blue Badge holders, we took the view that it was best to see how the new arrangements translated into practice before we took action. At the recent Fans Forum we asked the Club why they had reneged on the undertaking in the Ticketing White Paper to not charge Blue Badge holders to park at the Stadium.
For those that were at the Forum, you will recall that the Club denied this undertaking or said it was an error but in the 5-page paper we subsequently submitted to the Club, we showed it was there (page 21) and it was not an error.
In our paper we made the case that as Blue Badge holders did not have the same parking choices available to them as able-bodied fans, the parking for them should reflect this.
The paper was subsequently discussed at the Supporters’ Board meeting on 6 October and the matter is now waiting to be reviewed by the Club’s directors. You can read more about this at
https://www.mkdons.com/supporters-board/
We will bring you an update on this as soon as there is news.
In part two we find out more about Jo and Jeff the fans and the tireless work they do for the rest of us.
