Tributes have been paid to celebrate the life of a strong and passionate activist for disabled people in Wales who has died at the age of 27. Jonathan Williams, from Merthyr Tydfil and known as Jon, has been remembered for his tireless work in campaigning for equality and support for those with disabilities in Wales.
His death at the weekend was announced by Disability Sport Merthyr, a group co-founded by Jon between 2018 and 2019. Jon's teens and adulthood were filled with enthusiastic and passionate work including working as a young ambassador, sitting on the Disability Sport Wales National Youth Board, volunteering in schools and community groups, and being shortlisted for a Sport Wales award.
Jon first became known to Dan Bufton in 2010 when Dan worked as a disability sports officer for Merthyr Tydfil council. Over the last 12 years the two have worked through several milestones together leading to the formation of Disability Sport Merthyr when Dan found the need for "more Jons".
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Speaking on behalf of himself and also Jon's family, Dan said: "He came to me when he was about 15 as a participant first. He was referred to me as the disability support officer. Jon wanted to be active, he wanted to be fit, he liked the gym, and that's what he wanted to do."
After being set up with personal trainer Haydn Fleming, who Jon would continue to work with for the rest of his life, Jon decided to "tell" Dan that he would be joining him for work experience in the sports development department. "That was his way," Dan said. "He was fiercely independent".
After being the first disabled person to join the department he was then given a role as a young ambassador to ensure equality and inclusion for disabled people. "He'd get stuck in, help out in events, go to meetings with us," Dan said. From there Jon joined Sport Wales' national young ambassador steering group where he would go to panels and meetings representing Merthyr and those with disabilities all across Wales.
Dan explained how Jon's lived experiences, and ability to be open and frank, meant improving situations for the lives of many with disabilities within his community, eventually earning him a place in the final three shortlisted for young volunteer of the year at the Welsh Sports Awards in 2015. "He was my right-hand man for a long time," Dan added.
"One of the things he developed in 2016 was something called a Paralympic roadshow," Dan explained. The roadshow included visiting schools throughout the county, identifying those with disabled people, and then showcasing different sports and how they could be adapted to ensure people of all abilities could be included in sports.
"He would talk about his experiences, what he did in school or hadn't done at the time, and how other schools can work to include their disabled people. He was the inspiration."
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As Jon outgrew the 'young' ambassador title he began to look to his future and in 2017 was selected to join the Disability Sport Wales national youth board where he would represent the voice of disabled people across Wales. Between 2018 and 2019 Jon then began training to become a personal trainer with support from Lee Izdi, owner of Merthyr-based gym The Fitness Locker.
At this time he also co-founded Disability Sport Merthyr. The community forum of disabled people was formed to work alongside the sports development part of the council to ensure their work is inclusive as well as to promote and be the voice of disabled people.
It is through this forum, as well as his various other efforts in life, that his family want him to be remembered and celebrated. His parents, Cerys and Richard, as well as his older brother Chris, hope this can live on and continue Jon's legacy of improving conditions for other disabled people in the area.
In lieu of flowers at his funeral his family have invited people to donate to Disability Sport Merthyr in Jon's name. Dan said: "We can use that money to support other individuals so if someone wants to go to an event but needs an adaptive taxi then we can pay for it.
"Basically it means Jon can continue to support disabled people so if someone would benefit from a few sessions with a PT, like what Jon started with, then we could pay for a PT. We're not talking about £2,000 equipment just talking about the small things – the little barriers that don't always get noticed."
Details of how to donate and Jon's funeral details will be shared by his family in due time. The forum is currently in the process of setting itself up to take donations ahead of launching the fund in Jon’s name. To find out more you can find them on Facebook – Disability Sport Merthyr. You can leave your tributes to Jonathan in the comments below.
