An Aberdeen man has urged MSPs to help try and make it easier for people with disabilities to go to college and find work.
Sandy Stark, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, claimed there were “too many barriers” facing youngsters who just wanted a chance to make something of their lives.
The 20-year-old of Northfield, who has difficulty reading and writing, said he thought many employers were not interested in taking on people with physical or mental disabilities.
Mr Stark said he was fortunate that staff at his old school Bucksburn Academy helped him get a place at Aberdeen College but others do not get the same level of support.
He shared his views with members of Holyrood’s equal opportunities committee yesterday.
Mr Stark said: “Just because people have a disability does not mean we cannot work and I feel that there are too many barriers in front of us and we are not getting a chance to show off our skills to employers.
“There is not enough volunteering opportunities.
“I hope MSPs will listen to what I have said and someone who has got learning difficulties or special needs can have a future knowing that they can go out and work.
“People with special needs are isolated and once they leave school, they think that is it and they are forgotten about which is not right.”
Mr Stark works for Aberdeen-based charity VSA and was until recently a radio presenter with Aberdeen-based Station House Media Unit FM. (SHMU)
Brian Webb, a training co-ordinator at SHMU, also took part in the discussion.
“We work with young people aged from 5-25 and Sandy was part of the youth radio project which worked on his confidence and communication skills,” he added.
“We wanted to tell MSPs about how difficult it was for young people to make the transition between different phases, dependent on where they are in their lives
“Part of our role is to work with young people and allow that transitional phase to be easier.”