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(Picture: Graphic of paper dolls and a paper cut out of a person in a wheelchair)

For example, to change the mentality and move away from such comments “Other people won’t give you a job because they think you couldn’t do it” to “Let’s learn to look at disabled people’s knowledge and skills rather than looking for problems”.

This radical new approach has been born out of the concerns that disabled people themselves have expressed. One of the key strengths that Disability Wales has is the fact that its members are out in local communities across the country, talking to people.

Jenny McGhie Hambridge, Chairperson of Disability Wales, said: “Our Wales-wide member groups are so important because from them we learn about the issues that affect disabled people on a day-to-day basis”.

“Our local groups campaign locally as well as nationally and Disability Wales works to influence change through the Welsh Assembly and Parliament”, she adds.

Improving educational attainment and raising employment levels among disadvantaged groups are two of the primary goals of the current government. But, for disabled young people these goals are far from being achieved.

Recent research has shown that while the mainstream education system may have succeeded in raising the aspirations and ambitions for disabled young people, the research also highlighted the fact that this is rarely translated into adult life.

That said, Disability Wales has been leading the way in providing support for budding entrepreneurs under the Enter umbrella and, to date they have helped over 1,000 people in the last three years to set up their own businesses.

With support from the Welsh Assembly and European Union, Enter DW has been fundamental in introducing the concept of self-employment for disabled people. The organisation works with people on an individual basis to explore their business ideas, offer business support and information.

The overall aim is to reduce both the external and personal inhibitions that disabled people may have of themselves and to build confidence, increase skills and tackle any other issues that they may have.

Enter Disability Wales will continue to provide 1-2-1 support for disabled people who wish to start their own business until the 31st March 2008. They are working in partnership with enterprise agencies across Wales to offer the best advice and support network to help you start your own business.

(Picture: Photo of a disabled access sign)

Call Freephone 0800 783 7315 or log on to www.enterdisabilitywales.co.uk for more information.