I had to think about whether I wanted to be associated with this event because of the problem of potentially feeding the animal that keeps disabled people in the charity bracket, but the unfortunate fact is that many disabled people do rely on charity and until there is comprehensive integration and the government gives more benefit to those who need it, charity is still a lifeline for some disabled people.

I also read the worries on the discussion forum that some of you flagged up on discovering the large wages earned by SCOPE execs. I came to the conclusion that any discussion about equality was an opportunity to try and get people to see disability without prejudice and that perhaps a charity, which relies on sympathy and the belief that disabled people are needy to exist, wasn't a bad place to voice concerns about the negativity and stereotyping that shrouds disability.

The other guest speakers were Trevor Phillips OBE, a black broadcaster who is heavily involved with social inclusion issues, Ivan Massow, a business strategist who is gay and formed the first UK company to offer insurance to gay men and people with HIV, Simon Weston, a Falklands veteran disfigured by burns who has earned an OBE for his charitable works and Sandy Collington, a SCOPE trustee and mother of a 29 and 30 year old, with profound disabilities. As you can deduce, diversity was well represented and it was fascinating to hear everyone's experiences of marginalisation simply for being part of a minority group.

One of the questions we were asked was, did we think that as far as disability was concerned, attitudes were the main problem, and if so, was equality simply a matter of changing attitudes?

Because of all the comments from disabled people on the discussion forum, I was able to answer that yes, I and many other disabled people did believe society's attitudes to be the biggest barrier to equality for us.

For me, the most poignant point was made by Simon Weston. He told us that he has learned from the reactions he has received from people regarding his disfigurement and also from his army training, that no one owes him anything. He effectively takes responsibility for other people's ignorance and fear by encouraging honesty and making sure he makes the impression he wants.

He knows people are wondering "what's wrong with that man's face?" and rather than taking this personally, he's wise enough to know that there is a social problem when it comes to image or being different and he can be part of the solution. He believes it's up to him, and people like him (us!), to change attitudes. He doesn't think moaning about it is going to help, but thinks that if disabled/disfigured/different individuals empower themselves, things will change. In essence, he encouraged us to be forces to be reckoned with, not victims of other people's misconceptions.

This really inspired me and I wanted to share it with you because I know that a lot of you will draw strength from this. It's so simple, yet, so powerful; we change our attitudes first, then watch how others change theirs.

I like to think of myself as quite a plucky individual but I'm not above feeling sorry for myself at times and blaming all my woes on the rest of the world. There's something to be said for this military mentality of just getting on with it and taking personal control. Of course that's part of the ethos of the "Mind Instruction" technique I've learned to get me mobile again, but I hadn't fully appreciated the concept that if you change yourself, you change the world too.

I first met Uri Geller a few years ago when I was suffering from severe depression and a mutual friend asked him to visit me and try and cheer me up.

At the time, I was living in a dark, basement flat, my mobility was getting worse and the medical profession had literally and metaphorically washed their hands of me. When Uri arrived, I was lying on my bed as I didn't have the energy or will to even bother trying to get into the sitting room. He sat with me, we chatted and he told me:"You will walk; I can see you have that power within in you and you will do it." I remember his words very vividly because I thought; that's quite a risky thing to say after only having just met me, but instantly, I felt my hope returning.

Then, Uri stunned my partner and I by bending our thickest teaspoon in a matter of seconds (it carried on bending by itself once he'd put it down!) and I was left feeling very moved that a complete stranger had bothered to take the time out of his very busy day, to try and make me feel better.

Since then, I've been annoyed by the cynicism surrounding Uri; it's one thing to be sceptical of his powers (although he has been scientifically studied by a research institute in the US and was proved not to be any sort of a con artist), it's quite another to be nasty about someone just because you don't understand them. I know he's a very honest, generous and kind human being (he personally answers around 500 e-mails a day from people asking for his help in one form or another) and quite frankly we could do with a few more people like him in this world.

When he got back from the rainforest and heard about my recovery, he was thrilled and invited me over for tea. I was eager to show him my new walking "tricks" which he had of course predicted and I wanted to know all about "I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here!" (What was so offensive about Uri asking if the men got morning erections there? It's a perfectly natural male bodily function isn't it?)

Uri has an infectious, childlike enthusiasm for life and is very energising to be around; that afternoon was the most fun I've had in ages. We met his lovely daughter, Nat and talked about life and synchronicity and the fact that his presence affects electrical equipment. Then, when I started writing this article, my laptop crashed! I've never had any problems with it before so I lay the blame squarely on Mr Geller. I'd better get this up on the site before it goes again!