IT is hard to believe that it has been almost two years since I started exploring the para-sports movement.

And my work has come to play a big part in the coverage of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in the Evening Times.

I have led an active life and have never shied away from any challenges, despite being born with cerebral palsy, which has resulted in a mobility problem that means I have difficulty walking.

I also have a speech impairment, along with a manual dexterity problem, and I am profoundly deaf and wear two hearing aids.

Throughout my life, I have always striven to have the same aspirations as my peers.

My para-sports quest has taken me on a journey of exploration to find out how many people are ready to embrace para-sport at Glasgow 2014.

This quest has certainly made plenty of noises along the way and has championed awareness of the five para-sports that are integrated into the Commonwealth Games.

There is no doubt that Glasgow 2014 will capitalise on the para-sports for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

The global success of the London 2012 Paralympics brought the 'Super Human Being' spirit to a captivated audience and left many talking of the power and talent these disabled athletes displayed for months afterwards.

Now, Glasgow 2014 is set to change the perception of disabled athletes even further and strengthen it for the future.

The integration of para-sports into the Commonwealth Games programme emerged in Manchester in 2002.

This was first time in the Games' history that a number of para-sports were included in a fully inclusive programme with ten medal events.

My memory of that Commonwealth Games centres on Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Britain's most successful Paralympian, who competed there.

The Commonwealth Games Federation continued to endorse the inclusion of para-sports at Melbourne 2006 and the five sports - athletics, lawn bowls, swimming, table tennis and power lifting - were showcased once again, this time in 12 medal events.

At Delhi 2010, the para-sports medal tally shifted to 15 full medal events across four para-sports.

At Glasgow 2014 organisers have promised to deliver the biggest para-sports programme ever, with 22 medal events in five para-sports: Athletics, Cycling (Track-Cycling), Lawn Bowls, Swimming and Powerlifting.

It the first time that cycling has made the list.

We also have a strong para-sports champion within Glasgow 2014 itself - David Grevemberg, CEO of the organising committee - who I believe has been influential in staging para-sports on a greater scale alongside mainstream sports.

Before joining Glasgow 2014, David was the executive director of Sport and International Federation (IF) Relations at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), where he also served as sports director from 1999 to 2007.

As I mentioned, this para-sports journey has been an eye-opener and has demonstrated inclusivity is possible in staging these international Games.

I have had an incredible time so far, trying out the five para-sports for the Evening Times.

When I was sent out to try them I knew this journey would be a challenge.

Taking part in these sports has really pushed my boundaries but, more importantly, it has demonstrated what disabled people could do and can do by taking up one of these sports and maintaining an active life.

I want to show people that there is a sport out there for everyone.

More importantly, it has inspired me to carry on raising awareness of the para-sports.