A YOUNG disability rights campaigner from Hereford has taken his message about encouraging acceptance to Parliament.

Cameron Wood, 21, attended the Body Image Inquiry run by the Youth Select Committee in Westminster over the summer.

He gave evidence about the role social media plays in encouraging either positive or negative attitudes towards body image and told the committee how young disabled people are affected by this.

Mr Wood, who has had cerebral palsy and Hydrocephalus since birth, said: "The biggest thing I am still talking about is about how young people react to each other online and what schools can do in PE and PSHE to tackle body image in a positive way.

"My school was Whitecross and I was the first to go in a wheelchair and they struggled to begin with but when I left they were really good at it as there were two or three others.

"I also made a big point about when I was at college they have got anti-bullying ambassadors and discussing the fact that bullying within disabled young people is quite high."

He said he also wants to encourage parents to be honest with children about people with disabilities.

"I hear people asking every day 'why is he in a wheelchair'? I think, why don't they come up and ask me?

"I have lived with it for 21 years and would rather have the truth known than lies. I hear parents telling young children that my legs don't work and while that's true, that's not the whole picture.

"I was born like that and I have had to deal with it and I would rather the truth be told to a young person than only part of it.

"I think that young people will grow up thinking that about everybody they see in a wheelchair when it's not the case, there is a bigger picture. They need to be aware that people can be born that way, not everyone is born like them."

Mr Wood launched the Young People's Network (YPN) eight months ago in a bid to give a 'voice' to other young disabled people.

Anyone aged between 16 and 18 years of age who is interested in getting involved or finding out more information about the project can email ypnplead@outlook.com