SOCIAL INCLUSION AND DISABILITY: A YOUNG PERSON’S PERSPECTIVE

Policies promoting social inclusion are essential for ensuring the enjoyment of the whole community – especially young people – in public services and events. The forthcoming Paralympics represent an important time for London and the UK; it is our opportunity to demonstrate to the world that we can put our values of inclusion into practice and host a world class event at which everybody of all abilities is catered for. In this article I will explore issues around physical accessibility for young disabled people to the 2012 Paralympic Games, as well as the extent to which broader values of social inclusion are being implemented in the design, planning and promotion of the Paralympic Games. I will examine issues including the implementation of inclusive public transport routes to the Games and the promotion of information around the Paralympics, and how this reflects the social inclusion of young disabled people in society more broadly.
This article is based on the thoughts and ideas raised by young people with disabilities I interviewed from the Tower Project. The Tower Project is a charity that provides services to children, young people and adults with disabilities in the local community in Mile End, East London.