Although this time Bangladesh did not feature in the Paralympics, the Valerie Taylor Trust would wish to congratulate all who have been involved in the organisation of such a remarkable event. Valerie’s own association with Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the pioneering work of Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the first spinal injuries games and precursor of the modern Paralympics is especially appropriate. Lord Coe has described a seismic shift in the perception of sports and disability due to the marvellous outcomes of these 2012 games.
Of note has been the number of times, in reporting, that the phrase “ability not disability” has been used in the past 2 weeks. For many many years this has featured on the entrance to CRP Bangladesh
Another association of VTT is the performance of the Paralympic Orchestra in the Closing Ceremony. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is closely associated with the quadriplegic trumpet player, Clarence Adoo, who is a member of the Paralympic Orchestra, and VTT in Scotland has been very closely associated with the progress of Clarence’s Headspace instrument.