Once every four years, an excitable, competitive spirit thunders through our nation.

We push our differences and distastes aside and glue together, in the hopes of making sporting history. Happily, it’s now recognised that this history can be made by those with or without disability; be it amputation, dwarfism or visual impairment.

I'm talking, of course, about the Paralympics.

I’m all for the Paralympics, and can’t wait to head out to Rio myself to soak up all the action with a Caipirinha in hand, but it does grate on me that disability is only ever celebrated or supported for one month, once in every leap year.

I first became a wheelchair user at nine years old.

Born with cerebral palsy, my twin sister and I always had slightly different milestones to celebrate and goals to meet - such as me being able to walk from one side of the room to the other without falling over, aged four – but, really, there were few other differences in our experiences of growing up.

“We shouldn't wait for the Paralympics”: Why we need to talk more openly about disability every day