Disability talk from Paralympics champ

Workshops are being delivered at the Ilkeston academy to students in Years 7,8 and 9 by Martin Mansell, who won the 100m backstroke at the Seoul Paralympic Games in 1988.

Mr Mansell is a nine times Paralympic medallist having competed in two games, two world, two European championships and 15 other international competitions.

During the sessions students have worked in pairs with one of them being blindfolded and the other one guiding them, talked about the difficulties facing disabled people in their daily routines and looked at the disabled access in school. Mr Mansell also asked students to think about what factors might prevent disabled people from getting involved in their local community.

He discussed discrimination and asked students what they had learnt, what they could do going forward and how they were going to do it.

Student Emily Gilhooly, 13, said: “It’s really interesting because it’s made us all think about what’s involved in doing every day things when you are disabled.”

Mr Mansell said: “Whatever they become in the future they need to have a better understanding of disability and how they can change the way it’s dealt with. These students might be our architects and transport designers in years to come.”