Councillor who was left wheelchair bound after he was knocked down as a boy has spoken out on national radio about the challenges he faced

Jim MacLeod was interviewed by BBC Radio following the publication of research showing that rehabilitation from spinal injuries should focus on the mind as well as the body.

A study carried out at Heriot-Watt University found that people could recover from spinal injury more quickly if rehabilitation focused on their perception of the world around them.

The researchers say changes in the way people view their surroundings after injury can make it harder to carry out everyday tasks.

In light of the new research, councillor Jim MacLeod, who is a life-long disability campaigner, spoke out on BBC Radio Scotland about his own experiences in dealing with his spinal injury.

He said: "I was knocked down in 1969 when I was eight years-old and was coming home from school.

"I spent one year in hospital.

"It changed my life.

"Obviously things were a lot more difficult back then as there were not as many things to help you as they have now.

"I had difficulty in getting an education - I couldn't go back to the local school, so I had to go to boarding school in Edinburgh for almost five years."

Jim says says simple things that people take for granted become very challenging.

He said: "All of a sudden I had to think about everything I was doing.

"I had to think about what to do if I want a drink or if I want to go to the toilet - how do I manage.

"If I want to go out and about I have to think about how I get from A to B and accessibility."

Jim says that there is more support for disabled people today but believes there's still more work to be done.

He said: "I was an Inverclyde Council on Disability committee/board member for 24 years and I was one of the founder members of Inclusion Scotland as I want to make sure that disabled people are included.

"I think there is still a long way to go.

"It's about changing attitudes."