主播大秀

We're carrying on our tour of 主播大秀 Children in Need funded听projects in the UK by looking at two events in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Disabled young people have been getting together in the two countries for 'Fun and Friendship' events.

Cardiff City Stadium was the venue in Wales for the event which brought people together to talk with each other about some of the challenges that disabled teenagers face when they want to go out and have the sort of social lives that most young people take for granted.

Twelve听young people from the two organisations in Wales that are participating听-听 and 听- talked with participants from schools, Sports Disability Wales, Children in Wales, the Community Police and the transport industry, to name but a few. We were also delighted that representatives from our Corporate partners at Cineworld and Boots were able to join the lively conversations.听

Some very practical solutions were identified that would help making getting out and about easier and more enjoyable for disabled young people. For example, would it not be possible for travel identity cards - which have proved to be so helpful in Gwynedd - to be issued to all disabled young people in the whole of Wales?

Discussion was upbeat and constructive, but one young man struck a chord with everyone when he said, very matter-of-factly, that whenever he went anywhere he went with the, often realised, expectation that he would not be accepted.

Whilst describing some of the many barriers that often make it difficult for disabled young people, solutions were also proposed. Young people from Compass鈥檚 S.INC Project demonstrated the power of peer buddying, and all the young participants had some very practical suggestions to make to the Translink representative about how public transport might become more user friendly.

The young people had lots to say and the opportunity to share their ideas. Most importantly they were able to share them with people who were really listening and who are committed to making real and positive change.

The most resonating message was that the changes that matter most are changes in attitudes and understanding.听Practical difficulties can often be overcome if everyone takes a little bit more time to listen to and understand each other. Those who were there all identified things that they could easlily do in their personal of professional lives which would make a positive difference.

Imagine the scale of the change that could be made if we all did the same.