Disabled people from across Wales met in Cardiff on Saturday to discuss ways of breaking down negative attitudes towards them.

About 170 people attended the event which looked at why many of the 400,000 disabled people living in Wales feel excluded from mainstream society.

It is all about access for everybody and we are hearing it from people who are disabled

Rhian Davies, Disability Wales

One of the aims of the Hidden Nation conference held at Jury's Hotel in the city, was to provide information to employers on access rights.

Delegates were able to take part in a number of workshops throughout the day and stands were set up by different organisations.

Rhian Davies, Chief Executive of Disability Wales which co-ordinated the event, said: "The point we are making is that disabled people are not able to have their rights and equality in society.

"We want to look at how we can change access issues, employment and disabled people's right to equality.

"We are going to be examining the levels of how disabled people are empowering themselves but also how the mainstream providers can remove barriers in their own organisations.

"It is all about access for everybody and we are hearing it from people who are disabled," she said.

Disability is an equality issue we have a lot of support for this conference

Rhian Davies, Disability Wales

During the day, Professor Colin Barnes, a disability activist spoke about how people are disabled more by poor design, inaccessible services and other people's attitudes than their impairment.

Ms Davies said: "It is a very important event for disabled people in Wales, because it lets their voices be heard about what they want.

"Disability is an equality issue we have had a lot of support for this conference."

Inclusion

Chair of the Welsh Assembly's Equal Opportunities Committee, Carwyn Jones, AM, also attended the event to show what the assembly was doing to promote the inclusion and equality of disabled people.

"We are attempting to break down the barriers within our organisation that have done more to disadvantage people that their actual disability," said Mr Jones.

The conference comes a day before Disability Wales hold their AGM.

A cabaret and banquet was arranged to take place on Saturday night for people who attended the conference.