About two dozen people came to show their support for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd.

The celebration, hosted by the Airdrie Abilities Centre Society at Daybreak Community Church in Airdrie, aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. Approximately one in seven people around the world live with some form of disability. Coucillor Darrell Belyk and Deputy Mayor Tina Petrow were among some of the guest speakers at the event.

Nina Nath, Director at the Volunteer Airdrie Society, is very satisfied with how the event turned out.

"It went wonderfully. People were very happy that someone has finally stood up and spoken about people with disabilities."

Nath says that disabled persons have faced many challenges in the past and having a day to recognize them and bring awareness to their situations is imperative.

"For so long, nobody would say anything about people with disabilities, you know? Nobody would do anything about people with disabilities. They were all shoved under the rug, everything, all their issues, all their needs, everything. They were the last people on earth and yet, they are the most vulnerable people on earth."

She says that it is about time everybody realized that people with disabilities are human first. Disability does not discriminate against anybody. It can come to anyone, unannounced, at any age.

December 3rd was proclaimed International Day of Persons with disabilities at Airdrie's City Council meeting on November 19th.

 

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