Trailblazing a voice for young disabled people

4:10pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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CAMPAIGNER Miro Griffiths met up with Wirral West MP Stephen Hesford in London last week at the launch of “Trailblazers.”

The initiative is Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s new volunteering project, which gives young disabled people the chance to campaign on issues important to them in their local communities.

The launch was held in Westminster where more than 50 young people, families and supporters from around the country came together to present their stories, experiences and aims for Trailblazers to Parliamentarians.

The young adults will lead campaigns on issues they feel strongly about, for example better support at school and university or increased access to transport and leisure facilities.

It’s estimated that one-in-1,000 people in the constituency of Wirral West are living with muscle disease.

Mr Hesford has added his signature to a House of Commons motion calling on the Government to address the obstacles faced by young people with disabilities wanting to access education, housing, employment and work experience and recognise the vital contribution young disabled people can make to their local communities.

Mr Hesford said: “I was delighted to meet with local campaigner Miro Griffiths.

“It is very impressive to see so many young people getting involved in making a positive change on issues that affect them.

“Too often the views of young people are ignored. Just because you are young it doesn’t mean you can’t make a positive difference in your local community.

“I commend the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign who are running the young campaigners network.”

Miro, from West Kirby, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type Two, said: “As well as having the chance to campaign on the things that are most important to me, Trailblazers will give me an opportunity to make friends with people who have similar interests.

“Trailblazers will also give me the chance me to inform younger members of the group about the problems they might face, and to talk with the older members about what they found to be good tactics in all aspects of life.

“It will be great to see this project develop into such a big network as it will help so many campaigners like myself to learn lots of new skills which we will all be able to use in the future.”

The Trailblazers network will be open to anyone aged between 16 and 30 who would like to fight for the rights of disabled people.

To become a member of Trailblazers text ‘muscle’ to 84424 and they will get in touch.