Colour Blind Awareness at 12th EFDN Conference

27 February 2019

Colour Blind Awareness at 12th EFDN Conference

We’re happy to introduce Kathryn Albany-Ward of Colour Blind Awareness as a speaker at the 12th EFDN ‘#Morethanfootball’ Conference. Kathryn will present Colour Blind Awareness, a Community Interest Company formed to raise awareness of the needs of the colour blind in the community. Colour Blind Awareness is currently working with the Football Association, UEFA and Transport for London amongst others, to give greater accessibility of information on colour blindness to the population.

Kathryn Albany-Ward will provide an introduction to colour blindness and why it is important for all stakeholders in football to be aware of the impact it can have on every aspect of the game. Colour blindness is a very common, inherited condition which affects the ability in 8% of men to tell many different colour combinations apart. The presentation will consider problems for players and fans, such as distinguishing between kits or seeing equipment, for example, the ball or training cones against the pitch. The implications for ticketing, merchandising and sponsorship and for safety and security of stadia will also be considered. The conclusion will offer some practical solutions.

Kathryn Albany-Ward – Colour Blind Awareness Founder

Kathryn Albany-Ward founded Colour Blind Awareness in 2009 after finding out that her son was colour blind because he was unable to tell which children were in his school football team. After he was unable to follow a Champions League game on TV as a teenager, Kathryn was introduced to UEFA and since 2015 has been their advisor on colour blindness. She also advises the English Football Association, the Premier League and other football industry stakeholders on the impact of colour blindness. Kathryn was instrumental in creating the first Guidance Notes on Colour Blindness in Football and the Annex on colour blindness in the latest edition of the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s ‘Green Guide’.