International Day of People with a Disability is being held today and is a celebration of the abilities of people with a disability all over the world.
NSW Minister for Disability Services Kristina Keneally said there are more than 1.2 million living in NSW with a disability and today we celebrate their many achievements.
“People with disability make valuable contributions in their local communities everyday and today is our opportunity to say thank you,” Ms Keneally said.
“More than 150 exciting events will celebrate International Day of People with a Disability across NSW in November and December.
“Today I will attend a number of events to mark this important day, including:
• Presenting nearly $20,000 to the winners and runners-up of a school art competition
marking International Day of People with a Disability in Campbelltown;
• Launch a photo exhibition of Lachlan Centre clients; and
• Attend the fully accessible Australian debut of award-winning drama Who Loves the Sun
which is being screened at the Possible Worlds Canadian Film Festival, at the Chauvel Cinema.
“I am particularly looking forward to the awards ceremony which is being held at Campbelltown Performing Arts Centre.
“This competition encourages students to consider diversity and to focus on a person’s ability, rather than a disability.
“I have been impressed by the students’ creativity and it gives me great pleasure to present cash prizes in recognition of their efforts,” Ms Keneally said.
The Minister presented a total of $19,500 to winning schools and individual students including Kingswood High School, Beverly Hills Girls High and Mary Brooksbank School*.
Melbourne band Rudely Interrupted played their debut single Don’t Break my Heart at the awards.
The six-piece outfit, whose members have autism and Down syndrome, released the single earlier this year to critical acclaim.
“Rudely Interrupted is on a mission to change the way all Australians think about disability,” said front man Rohan Brooks. “It’s time people looked beyond so called disabilities to people’s different abilities.”
DisABILITY is not a Dirty Word was organised by the Australian Foundation for Disability (AFFORD), with support from the Iemma Government.
The competition features in Don’t DIS my ABILITY, the NSW government campaign celebrating International Day of People with a Disability.