08 February 2012
Bridge The Gap
Disability Awareness · Training & Consultancy
About John Richards
Having been born with Spina Bifida, the presenter became visually impaired at the age of four, when surgery resulted in the onset of Hydrocephalus, causing damage to the eye nerves.
The presenter spent several years in residential schools, gaining O levels and shorthand and typing qualifications. He was then employed as an audio-shorthand typist and later obtained A levels, an honours degree in Social Policy and a qualification in Social Work.
The next six years saw the presenter in hospital social work, supporting patients, and their families, suffering from terminal illness, amputations and other traumatic situations, including coping with the effect of the diagnosis of disabling and often degenerative conditions.
Following a period as a senior policy officer at the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, where he was responsible for legal and parliamentary affairs, health and social services, the presenter worked for Bucks Social Services assessing need and providing support for people with disabilities and their families/carers, as well as representing the Department in several community initiatives. He then worked as a development officer for the MK Centre for Integrated Living and he currently works as an area advisor for a national disability charity.
The presenter has held several posts in voluntary organisations, both of and for people with disabilities, including secretary of the South Wales branch of the National Federation of the Blind, executive committee of the Welsh Sports Association of the Disabled and both chairperson and secretary of the Milton Keynes Reader Service, which he helped to establish. He has also held positions of responsibility in church and has led the Milton Keynes branch of Torch 
Fellowship for many years.
Being visually impaired, the presenter brings both a personal and professional perspective to disability issues. He believes that every opportunity should be taken for people with disabilities to become actively involved in their community, and has practised this himself through his membership of a local choir and inaugurating the Milton Keynes Welsh Society.
The presenter is married with one son and a granddaughter and is a committed Christian. He enjoys reading and the theatre and is a fervent Glamorgan County Cricket supporter. He is a member of Women in Enterprise and is a qualified advocate for Through the Roof, the Christian disabilty charity.