I am a 21-year-old lady suffering cerebral palsy. I am writing this in the hope that someone will hear my cry and understand that I am eager and capable of working.

Intellectually, I am 100 per cent normal. In fact, I’ve got seven O levels and the ECDL. You might say that I have got all that’s needed to have a decent job but, unfortunately, this is not the whole story...

When it comes to my physical ability it’s completely different! I need assistance because I’m totally physically impaired.

Therefore, it’s impossible for me to work without someone assisting me. I don’t need someone sitting near me all the time as I can perform and do my work on a computer on my own. But, obviously, for my physical needs, such as taking me into the office, eating, blowing my nose, if necessary etc., I need to have my mind at rest that someone is there to help me out.

Disabled people have the right to work like a ‘normal’ person

Everything comes at a price. I know that here I’m talking about another wage but it’s not fair that I would have to pay a person myself.

Like everyone who is considered “normal”, I have the right to work and as a company takes care of its employees’ training I think it’s also a company’s duty to pay for a personal assistant for me.

All I am asking for is a part-time job; it’s not a big deal! Considering that all the disabled children nowadays are included in mainstream schools, I cannot figure out why we are left swimming alone when we are out of the school gates!

It’s such a pity and waste of money to educate a person and then leave him at home, doing nothing, just because he needs assistance!