Derrick Hughes helped create East Ayrshire Celebrating Abilities Conference

Derrick Hughes’ passionate determination ultimately led to the inaugural East Ayrshire Celebrating Abilities Conference.

Around 100 pupils from East Ayrshire secondary and additional support needs schools gathered for the event, which was opened by chief executive Fiona Lees.

It culminated the hard work of a team of young people with additional support needs who formed a committee and, with help from their teachers and Vibrant Communities, designed and delivered the special conference.

Opening the event, Ms Lees spoke about the importance of inclusion and how proud she was of the committee who had worked so hard to make their ideas a reality.

She then introduced Derrick Hughes, who had visited the European Inclusive Conference and whose drive and determination was integral to the East Ayrshire conference taking place.

He spoke about his own experiences before inviting the young people to participate in four specially designed workshops, each providing an insight into a different disability.

The first focused on physical abilities where young people experienced what it was like to use a wheelchair and perform everyday tasks.

Next focus was on learning abilities where young people experienced what it was like to have autism.

Number three dealt with visual abilities and was an introduction to how scary the world can be through someone else’s eyes.

Finally, the fourth was about hearing abilities as young people learned some basic sign language and experienced what life is like for pupils who have hearing loss.

After the workshops the young people gathered together to make a pledge to consider the needs of others.

Included in their vows were: “I pledge to help my friend who has dyslexia,” and “I pledge to be understanding and helpful.”

Alan Ward, head of schools, closed the conference by speaking about the importance of raising awareness of the challenges young people with additional support needs face every day.