Matthew Cook is cared for by his family

In a new report out on Tuesday, one of Britain's leading disability charities, John Grooms, says Matthew Cook's case highlights the raw deal suffered by many young disabled people and their families.

Matthew Cook has been cared for by his family since he suffered a huge brain haemorrhage a week after graduating from university 10 years ago.

He has had to learn how to speak, and eat again with the devoted support of his parents, Geraldine and Gary.

I would be driven down and down when I want to go forward and upwards Matthew Cook

But Mr Cook said he would like to live a more independent life.

He did try living in a John Grooms' specialist unit in Hertfordshire but found it difficult to cope living so far away from home.

The only other option offered in Cardiff was a place in an old people's home.

A statement released by Cardiff City Council on Tuesday night said it was aware this solution was "not entirely satisfactory".

"We agree that there is insufficient local provision to meet all of Matthew's needs."

"We are seeking to commission new services and are talking to potential providers."

"Complete no-no"

Mr Cook said he would like to live with like-minded people.

"The ideal is to live with people with head injuries, all sharing," he said.

He added that the prospect of living with elderly residents of an old people's home would set his recovery back.

"It's a complete no-no," said Mr Cook.

"I can't understand how a 30-year-old can mix with old age pensioners - nothing against them - but I would be driven down and down when I want to go forward and upwards."

Geraldine Cook currently looks after her son

The author of the John Grooms report, Baroness Howarth of Breckland, said: "I'm afraid this story is desperately typical.

"We in John Grooms have wonderful residential care homes where people like Matthew can live, but London is not Wales and I'm sure he wouldn't want to leave his home."

A two-year inquiry by John Grooms showed that nearly 12% of people in Wales are providing unpaid care.

And of those, more than a quarter are working 50 hours or more a week.

The research also found that Wales has the highest proportion of the long-term sick in Britain.

Out-of-date

The group says out-of-date information on disabled people means that care, housing and health services are poorly planned, inadequate and inappropriate.

Figures show that in Wales 27% of the population have long-term illness, compared to 20-25% across the rest of the UK.

John Grooms, which is launching its report at Westminster on Tuesday, said improvements were needed to the planning and implementation of services for disabled people, which would give them and their carers flexibility and independence.

This move comes in the European Year for Disabled People which aims to put the needs and rights of people with disabilities centre-stage.