The UK Sports Association (UKSA) has announced the launch of its ‘My Sport My Voice! project, which is hoping to build on the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Starting in April 2014, the ‘My Sport My Voice!’ project will raise awareness of athletes with a learning disability amongst the general public, giving those athletes a platform to share their views and challenge perceptions around disability.

Table tennis players Patrick Cox (19-years-old) and Adam Thompson (25) have already benefitted from UKSA help and could be part of the Athlete Ambassador programme linked to the project, which has been funded thanks to an award from the Big Lottery Fund under its ‘Keeping the Spirit of 2012 Alive’ initiative.

The project will be delivered in collaboration with the four Home Nation partner bodies – English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI) and Disability Sport Wales (DSW).

Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive at UKSA, said: “My Sport My Voice! will help to raise the profile of athletes with learning disability and of their remarkable achievements, both in and out of the sporting arena.

“The whole project is about including the athletes in every aspect, putting them at the very centre as our Athlete Ambassadors and enabling them to have their voice heard.”