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Paralympics can change attitudes, says Scope Cymru head | Paralympics can change attitudes, says Scope Cymru head |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Paralympics are a "once in a lifetime" chance to change attitudes to disabled people in the UK, says the head of a disability charity in Wales. | The Paralympics are a "once in a lifetime" chance to change attitudes to disabled people in the UK, says the head of a disability charity in Wales. |
Ian Thomas, director of Scope Cymru, said the charity's recent survey had showed attitudes to disabled people were worsening. | Ian Thomas, director of Scope Cymru, said the charity's recent survey had showed attitudes to disabled people were worsening. |
He said the exposure of a home Games - billed as the biggest ever - would help change those attitudes. | |
The opening ceremony of the Paralympics takes place on Wednesday. | |
Mr Thomas told BBC Wales: "One of the things that came quite strongly out of the survey was the need for disabled people to be more visible, and I think visibility does change attitudes. | Mr Thomas told BBC Wales: "One of the things that came quite strongly out of the survey was the need for disabled people to be more visible, and I think visibility does change attitudes. |
"The Paralympics will be these fantastic events [broadcast] into millions of homes all over the UK where we will see disabled people competing at the very highest level. | "The Paralympics will be these fantastic events [broadcast] into millions of homes all over the UK where we will see disabled people competing at the very highest level. |
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to change these attitudes in the UK and, beyond the Games, we have got to keep a lot of the issues around disability in the public eye. | "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to change these attitudes in the UK and, beyond the Games, we have got to keep a lot of the issues around disability in the public eye. |
"I know for a fact that with the Games creating these celebrities [of Paralympians], that this is the chance to do it." | "I know for a fact that with the Games creating these celebrities [of Paralympians], that this is the chance to do it." |
The Scope survey last month suggested many disabled people in Britain felt media coverage about benefit cheats had negatively affected attitudes towards them. | The Scope survey last month suggested many disabled people in Britain felt media coverage about benefit cheats had negatively affected attitudes towards them. |
Almost half of the 500 disabled people and carers polled said attitudes to them had worsened. | Almost half of the 500 disabled people and carers polled said attitudes to them had worsened. |
"I think we shouldn't take away from the Games themselves," added Mr Thomas. | "I think we shouldn't take away from the Games themselves," added Mr Thomas. |
"This is going to be an incredible spectacle, [with] amazing athletes, endurance, and you will see fantastic performances." | "This is going to be an incredible spectacle, [with] amazing athletes, endurance, and you will see fantastic performances." |
Welsh former Paralympian John Harris said the Games would help the public feel more comfortable with disabilities. | Welsh former Paralympian John Harris said the Games would help the public feel more comfortable with disabilities. |
"What we're doing, we're bringing to the fore people with disabilities. Very often, a lot of people don't see people with disabilities, only from a distance," he said. | "What we're doing, we're bringing to the fore people with disabilities. Very often, a lot of people don't see people with disabilities, only from a distance," he said. |
"We're bringing them into people's homes. | "We're bringing them into people's homes. |
"We're turning a lot of disabled people into celebrities, for want of a better word, which is fine by me because people feel far more comfortable with that and they will feel far more comfortable with a disability." | "We're turning a lot of disabled people into celebrities, for want of a better word, which is fine by me because people feel far more comfortable with that and they will feel far more comfortable with a disability." |
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