Found out last night that being autistic and as a result not having a smart phone is not a good enough reason to be allowed a plastic card.

After being one of the E400 this is an even bigger kick in the teeth and I don't think I'll be able to attend the games anymore.

After being a season ticket holder for 25 years I am heart broken.

My fiance told me that i received the email late last night which is the way Palace works now so haven't got time to contact them.

That's fine, it's a fair question.

I'm VERY sensitive to light so this means I can't use smart phones, computers, attend concerts, go in shops that have a ceiling light flashing etc.

I have to wear sunglasses a lot and just use an old Nokia that i can stand looking at for about half an hour a day sometimes.

Apparently the Premier League wants it all digital by 26/27 season so everyone, even those over 65 who have been accepted this time will have trouble if not got a phone by then.

If you have a recognised diagnosis of ASD you are covered by the equality act it legally obliges the supplier of goods to make reasonable adjustments.

Contact club as suggested in post above and all should be well.

I'm in the same boat Erith.

I'm not autistic but I can't download anything to my phone yet I've been told by Palace (I went to my first game in 1967) that if I still want to go next season I need to get a new phone or queue up each match at the Ticket Office. Coming up from Sussex it's always touch and go whether British Rail get me there at all so I'm inclined to tell the to stuff it. Going to Palace should be enjoyable, not a chore.

The Premier League may want everything digital by 2026. Can someone tell them that this year is 2024? I may not be here by 2026.

Living down here does have some advantages. At least you can see them cry.

I've just had an email from the club to say that they will be sending me a card season ticket prior to the start of the season. They have warned that this option will probably be withdrawn next year, but I can't understand why your request has been turned down this year.

I do actually have a download of my ST on my phone, but I just like to have the back-up of a card in case the download doesn't work at the turnstile, or my phone runs out of charge.

The club can not withdraw unless they have a viable solution to replace it with

A football club is not above the law unless you are state owned lol

To be far the club can only do so much the original poster listed a bunch of issues the club cant solve so it's upto the person if they choose to go into that environment also why do they not have a chaperon or carer with them?

I have a family member who has a lot of these issues listed and they would never even consider going to a sports event its not viable because of too many variables you can not control even ranging from transport to and from the place.

Sensitive to light so cant use a mobile sorry that is BS excuse.

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Not sure if viable but maybe someone can access your digital season ticket for you and print off the codes which fit under the reader. I can do that. A smart phone is as little as £30 which will allow this to be downloaded and a querty code printed. You only need an email address.

I'm autistic. I have a smart phone, and a laptop. I am lucky that although I suffer from light sensitivity, it is relativity low. I can quite imagine that some people might not be able to use a phone, or a laptop. I much prefer pen and paper, its pain free.

The OP is quite correct, grumpymort - please keep your opinions to yourself.

10,000th Confirmed member of Hol

You could get hold of a dirt-cheap second-hand smart phone but not sign up to a phone service provider (ie don't put a SIM card in). Then just use it when at home via WiFi as though it was a second (tiny) computer. You can save your tickets, passes etc onto the phone,then when you go to the match, or anywhere else where you need to show a barcode, just whip out the phone and "bingo". You won't be tracked by anyone or be available to anyone because you won't be connected to any network.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

I feel sorry for the OP it's not just people with difficulties many pensioners feel left out.

In my block of flats I have become Travel Agent, NHS appointment booker, Amazon purhaser etc. for my elderly neighbours.

The generation above me will die out but business and government are moving too fast for these folk.

It's like supermarkets, my Sainsbury only has one manned till and often none at all. However the self service tills don't completely replace a human being, they are not well designed and if you are buying restricted goods such as booze or aspirin you still need a person.

So my general comment about technology is that we are being pushed into using it when it only does some of what it is supposed to do.

My father gave up calling his insurance company he just did not understand how to use the AI that answered the phone.

I wonder if this will be me in 20 years not understanding the technology that will exist then.

One more point