City of Parramatta celebrate International Day of People with a Disability
Published Wed 30 Nov 2016
Launching on Friday 2 December at Parramatta Town Hall, our member City of Parramatta will showcase a photo exhibition featuring portraits of extraordinary people with a disability in celebration of International day of People with a Disability.
Challenging disability stereotypes, the ‘Extraordinary Lives, Extraordinary People’ exhibition focuses on seven exceptional people from Western Sydney who, despite having a disability, live lives that are far from ordinary.
“People tend to assume that those with a disability are limited in some way, however this exhibition directly challenges that notion by exploring the extraordinary things that people with a disability are achieving. It shines a light on their abilities, rather than focusing on their disability,” City of Parramatta Administrator Amanda Chadwick said.
The exhibition will also include the launch of two short films which tell the stories of Parramatta residents Shirley, a TAFE student and disability presenter with cerebral palsy, and Jessica, a gymnast at the Australian Academy of Gymnastics in Belmore who trains at an elite level while living with cystic fibrosis.
“People with a disability contribute a great deal to society and it is important to promote a greater understanding of disability issues within our community. It is Council’s hope that by celebrating these triumphs, we can discourage stereotypes and move towards a culture of stronger understanding and appreciation,” Ms Chadwick said.
The ‘Extraordinary Lives, Extraordinary People’ exhibition is an initiative of City of Parramatta Council and will travel to different locations across Western Sydney, including Riverside Theatres, Westfield Parramatta, Western Sydney University, and various City libraries.