Back in 2012, I took my family to a day of athletics at the London Paralympics. We were all looking forward to the occasion but, as I walked with my young sons towards the Olympic stadium, I must admit I felt a small pang of disappointment at having missed out on tickets to the actual Olympics a few weeks previously.
That feeling quickly dissipated. By chance we were sat in the front row, and the energy, exuberance and talent of the para-athletes – cheered on by 90,000 raucous spectators – was unforgettable. But witnessing such incredible feats at close quarters made me realise with some shame how little I thought about the way society perceives disabled people, and about the ways in which their opportunities are limited.
