NCB Now: One young person's experience

Before the next election, we wanted to make sure young people's voices are heard by politicians making decisions about what they will promise to do for disabled children.

We wanted to involve lots of young people, so we asked young people from across the country to send in their views. We also talked with groups of young people.

We made a DVD to go with the manifesto. I enjoyed being involved in planning and filming it as I am doing media studies and hope to get a media job one day, so this was great experience for me.

Every Disabled Child Matters launched our manifesto at the party conferences this autumn. I was on the young people's panel at the Conservative event. I introduced the DVD and asked MPs a question. This was the first time I attended a party conference and it was really exciting to be part of it all.

I will be 18 soon so will vote for the first time in the next election. One of the most important issues for me is how the next government can improve further education for young disabled people. We need more choices and flexibility so we can get the skills and training needed to follow our career choices.

I also want to see a stronger commitment to creating opportunities for disabled children to get involved in sport, especially as the Olympics will be in London in 2012.

YOUNG AMBASSADORS

The Council for Disabled Children is recruiting a number of disabled young people as ambassadors. The young ambassadors will work together as a group to highlight key issues faced by disabled children and young people. If you know any young people who would be interested in becoming a young ambassador, please contact Pamela Shaw on pshaw@ncb.org.uk.