THE London 2012 Paralympic Games are a huge success. Every venue is a sell-out and Channel Four is clearing its schedules to screen more of the Games after record audience figures, including 11 million for the Opening Ceremony.

The names of the athletes may be less familiar, but the crowds are cheering them on regardless. Canadian Paralympian Patrick Jarvis says the level of support has propelled the Games into the “realm of high performance sport”.

The outstanding achievements of our Paralympians is changing attitudes about disability.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister David Cameron said he believed the Paralympics would “inspire a lot of people and change people’s views on disability”.

Mr Cameron is right, of course, but his words have a hollow ring when the Government’s slavish adherence to cuts is having such a disproportionate impact on disabled people.

Government subsidies have been withdrawn from Remploy, prompting the closure of 36 factories and the loss of almost 2,000 jobs for disabled workers.

Cuts to Disability Living Allowance will leave thousands of others out of pocket.

The Tory war on “the dependency culture” is demonising people who rely on benefits. Disabled people are not scroungers or benefit cheats – they sometimes just need a little extra to cope with the challenges they face.

We should be as honoured to look after them, as we are proud of the achievements of our Paralympians.