An 18-year-old singer-songwriter is helping police launch an access card for disabled people.
Gracie Mellalieu, who lives in Mynydd Isa, is one of just 3,000 people across the globe suffering from Morquio syndrome, a rare condition affecting the production of essential enzymes in the body.
Despite her weekly enzyme infusions, and 11 operations to date, the pop singer is keen to make a difference.
She said: "I'm really proud that I am an Access Ambassador, and I can finally put my intelligence and lived experience to good use.
"I feel I'm making a difference in changing people's attitudes - it gives me a real sense of purpose and the fact that it’s a paid role is great.
"The Access Card is another big step forward because it's a brilliantly simple and effective idea.
"By showing the card somebody will be able to help you do what you want to do."
The access card is an innovative scheme being launched in North Wales by social enterprise PIWS at the end of the month.
The card contains up to nine symbols summarising the holder's access requirements, based on their rights as per the Equality Act.
This enables venues to understand and accommodate the individual’s needs swiftly and discreetly.
North Wales Police, the first force in the UK to adopt the card, are enthusiastic about the initiative.
Chief Inspector Rob Rands said: "The concept of the Access Card is something that as a force we and as a wider police service as a whole in England and Wales should embrace 100 per cent.
"It makes perfect sense that you should be able to walk into any place, present your accessibility needs, and have reasonable adjustments made accordingly."
The access card, originally developed by Nimbus Disability in Derby, serves as a communication tool that informs venues about the impairments of the cardholder.
Every card is customised to meet the specific needs of the holder.
PIWS, the brainchild of marketing expert Davina Carey-Evans, was established to campaign for improved access for children and young people with disabilities in various venues.
Ms Carey-Evans said: "I'm very grateful to Gracie for agreeing to be the poster girl for the new Access Card."
The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, has also provided backing for the bilingual Access Card.
He said: "I was very pleased to be able to support the scheme because it's about bringing people together and emphasises the values of North Wales Police.
"It's about responding differently to people's different needs – we need to treat everybody as individuals so that we break down barriers."
The Access Ambassadors scheme was made possible with a launch fund from North Wales Together, a Welsh Government project aimed at transforming the lives of young people with disabilities.
Their Planning and Development Officer, Sioned Williams, said: "It's a fantastic new initiative and I'm very supportive, particularly because I'm a parent of a young person with a learning disability.
"It's very refreshing that North Wales Police are supporting this initiative and showing the way forward for everybody else."
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