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activists and organizers hope the Paralympics that the decision will change the perception of what disabled people can achieve - and in the workplace

Bwerani Francis, 18, is halfway through a course mechanic. Nadia Kabir is 19 and wants to be a receptionist. Toni Devlin, 16, began training to work in child care. Seventeen years Rufaro Asuquo wants a career in retail. Gabby Poku, 19, dreams of opening her own salon.

studying Newham College of Further Education in the heart of one of the districts of East London Olympics - a group of young adults in professional learning, the hopes and ambitions positive the future. But hope is tempered by the knowledge that the five have a physical or learning disabilities - such as dyslexia, ADHD and autistic conditions - limiting their future employment opportunities

like the others, Francisco is optimistic of finding a job, but recognizes the reality may be different. "There you go, you accept," he said. "If they do, we must continue to try to find a location more suited to their needs."

Although much has been the effect of transformation of the Olympic Games in 2012, the Paralympics, which follow immediately and for the ticket distribution process currently underway, which could provide the more important legacy for disabled workers in the country.

the Institute of Employment (IES) offers a reminder of the great disadvantage compared to people with disabilities in the labor market. About half of people with disabilities of working age are unemployed, while those in employment earn less than non-disabled colleagues. People with mental health problems and learning disabilities are particularly likely to be disadvantaged.

to watch the Paralympic Games as a unique opportunity in life to change public perception of what disabled people can achieve. "The main obstacle for people with disabilities to participate fully in our workforce is one of attitude," said Catherine Grinyer, Director of Communications at the Employers Forum on Disability. "There are prejudices of unconscious bias in all of us on what someone can or can not do. I disabled Paralympic challenge."

A government document entitled London 2012. A legacy for disabled people, published this year addressed a key issue in the fight against discrimination - with a focus on changing the perception of the economic contribution to society disabled people

for disabled workers, this shift must be made by employers, says the author of the briefing paper IES, Nigel Meager: "Employers tend to think that disabled people will be more expensive to use and less productive than non-disabled people. "He says that employers are more likely to change their attitudes in light of experience." Once they realize a person with a disability can be as productive as everyone else, they are less resistant to the other. "

Baroness Grey-Thompson - best known athlete with a disability in the UK, who during his 19 year career won 16 Paralympic medals including 11 gold -. Reached the same

"Some problems are related to physical access, but I think that the greatest access is still the attitude," he said. "So people think," Oh, if we want to employ disabled people will have to clean all the mops, bathroom, etc.. When, in reality, for most people with disabilities, the settings are actually small. "

Of Grey-Thompson admitted that there was little data on the legacy of the previous games, he sees a fundamental difference with London 2012 is openly progressive position adopted by the Organizing Committee London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

"There are more people with disabilities working in the LOCOG I've seen in any other organizing committee, not just in relation to the Paralympics," he said. "You will see people with disabilities who work in safety or sports or marketing or otherwise. You will not be "in the section where the work of people with disabilities." The effect is that they are capable of other companies say "you're dealing with, the number of people with disabilities? They have a direct influence on companies to employ more disabled people. "

In many ways, LOCOG is in a unique position and increased its workforce by approximately 200 after the Beijing Olympic Games three years ago to its current level of 2000. By the time the London Games will begin next summer, will be responsible for an army of 200,000 soldiers of the staff and volunteers.

"The Paralympic Games are about what you can do instead of what can not," said Fox, who joined BT as an apprentice in 2006. "We all have the ability of any kind. The word disability has a negative connotation, and I like to think that the Games help eradicate it. "

Fox, who is on stand-by for the football team GB next year, but expects to play, said that his mild cerebral palsy has affected people's perceptions of what can achieve in life. "It's almost a case of people who think," Oh, good on him to go about things in a positive way, "he said." But even with this condition when I am weak on one side of my body, I can go to train and participate, and just be the same as anyone else. "