Paralympics boosts profile of disabled but no panacea

* People "make assumptions", Paralympics 800m champ says * Despite games' popularity, challenges remain -committee * "Being open" is vital, sailor Helena Lucas says By Jack Merlin Watling LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Walking with Paralympic Gold Medalist Tim Prendergast along one of London's busiest streets, 'disability' is not the first word that springs to mind. Weaving through the heaving crowds outside Baker Street underground train station, Prendergast, who is blind except for peripheral vision, crosses a road without pause - exhibiting the focused confidence that led him to victory in the T13 800m in Athens in 2004 with a time of 1:56.23. In fact, some people will grab your arm and move you around," said Prendergast, who says he never uses a cane. "They have good intentions, so you can't get cross, but it's patronising." The 2012 London Paralympics, with an estimated international television audience of 3.4 billion, raised awareness of disabilities and turned some competitors into heroes and heroines.



via Health News Headlines - Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/paralympics-boosts-profile-disabled-no-panacea-131007266--sector.html