BBC sports commentator Gabby Logan has become vice-partron of a charity for people with learning and physical disabilities, autism and brain injuries.

Gabby, who started the role this month, has supported the Disabilities Trust for the past three years by appearing at fundraising events.

She became involved with the trust through her mother Christine Yorath, who has been on the board of trustees for about 10 years.

Last year the former international gymnast hosted a golf day for the charity with her husband, rugby player Kenny Logan. As vice-patron, she will support future fundraising events and raise the trust's public profile.

Gabby said: "I am delighted to have accepted the role of vice-patron for a charity that is very close to my heart - The Disablities Trust. The service they deliver across the UK, providing support for a range of disabilities such as acquired brain injuries, autism, physical disabilities and learning disabilities is already something to be very proud of. I hope that in this new role I will be able to support the trust even more."

Barrie Oldham, chief executive of the Disabilities Trust, said: "We are so thrilled to be welcoming Gabby in an official capacity as vice-patron to the trust. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank her for the fantastic support that she has given us so far. We look forward very much to working with her in the future."

The Disabilities Trust provides high quality care, rehabilitation and support services to more than 850 people with profound physical disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury and learning disabilities across the UK.

A coalition of groups representing people with disabilities, families and service providers have come together to push for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Frustrated by years of neglect and underfunding by successive governments, the coalition has decided a strong collective voice is required to ensure the needs of Australians with a disability and their families are finally placed on the political and public agenda.

The coalition has established a campaign fund to ensure the public understands the need for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The goal of the campaign is to promote awareness of the NDIS and a greater understanding of the opportunities it will provide for people with disability and their families.

“The National Disability Insurance Scheme represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the lives of people with a disability and their families in this country,” said Lesley Hall, spokesperson for the National Disability and Carer Alliance.

“For too long Australians with a disability have been reliant on limited government support or charitable handouts. They have not received the support they require to be full, active contributing members of the community,” she said.

“The National Disability Insurance Scheme represents the opportunity to finally ensure people with a disability have the same opportunities to contribute and participate as the rest of the community.

“Unless they have personal experience, very few people understand the crisis facing so many people with a disability and their families in this country,” she said.

“Through no fault of their own many people with a disability and their families find themselves in absolute dire circumstances. We need to make people aware of this national disgrace and how the National Disability Insurance Scheme will make a difference.”

A number of organisations providing services to people with a disability and their families have already contributed to the fund. The coalition is asking all groups who work with people with disabilities and their families to make a contribution to ensure the awareness campaign continues.

The peak organisation representing disability service providers, National Disability Services, has joined the coalition. Chief Executive Dr Ken Baker said today NDS recognised that the National Disability Insurance Scheme represents “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for transformational change.”

“I am therefore delighted that so many of our members have responded so quickly and so generously by contributing funds from their scarce reserves to this campaign. A number have commented to me that they can think of no more important issue to which they can contribute their resources and they look forward to working alongside people with a disability, their families and carers.”

All of the members of the coalition are committed to working together cooperatively to present a strong united voice to achieve this transformational reform. All look forward to more organisations adding their voices to the campaign.

The coalition has established an initial national steering committee comprising:

Lesley Hall, CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Kevin Cocks, Director, Queensland Advocacy Inc

Ken Baker, CEO, National Disability Services

Tim Walton, President, National Disability Services

Rob White, CEO, Spastic Centre of NSW

David Barbagallo, CEO, Endeavour

Joan Hughes, CEO, Carers Australia

Pam Webster, National Disability and Carer Alliance

The coalition will soon appoint a National Campaign Director to oversee the awareness campaign.