The Cowra community celebrated International Day of People with Disability on Thursday, December 3 with a small gathering in Squire Park.
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Friends, family, staff and clients of Cowra Special Needs Service (CSNS) enjoyed a barbecue and cake to recognise the achievements and contributions people with a disability make in our community.
Emma Roberts from CSNS, who is legally blind, acted as guest speaker for the day telling those gathered of how her disability has shaped her.
"In the last 10 years I have a new perspective on disability," she said.
"I embrace it, I love it, it has made me the person I am. I am stronger, more resilient and I can solve more problems in a day than most of you even realise you could do in a year.
"The challenges are difficult but through it, I've met so many lovely and wonderful people and there's so much people with disability can offer their communities and their countries and the world.
"I'm someone who can proudly say I am a person with disability instead of staying in the shadows and trying to hide it."
Ms Roberts encouraged everyone to embrace the theme: 'Change the way you think about disability'.
"There are so many wonderful things and opportunities out there for people with disability, if people can support us to find them and help our way through," she said.
"I want to challenge you to look at disability differently.
"When you see the possibilities in disabilities, that's when you find freedom. Freedom to be who they are and who they want to be."