Since becoming Premier in March this year, one of the great privileges and pleasures for me has been to work for a more inclusive community.

The International Day of People with a Disability and the month long celebrations of the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign, are important reminders that talent, skill and enterprise do not come in one-size-fits-all packages.

In open and tolerant societies, diversity is viewed as an indication of the strength of a community and this is especially true for NSW, not just for the 1.4 million people among us who have a disability, but for everyone.

An environment which is more equitable, accessible and inclusive is our ultimate goal and I believe that through recent reforms to disability services we are making strong progress in the right direction.

Implementing a person-centred approach and working towards a National Disability Insurance Scheme are essential to delivering the services that meet the needs of people with a disability, their families and their carers.

These and other issues including; technology, social media and employment are all explored in Made You Look.

Leveraging new technologies in particular, is a central part of promoting greater inclusivity, whether it is for educational purposes, better health or simply finding out when the next accessible bus is coming.

Last year over 26,000 people attended events to celebrate International Day of People with a Disability and the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign, and I am confident we can surpass that number this year.

I look forward to joining with you to celebrate the worthy contribution people with a disability make in our community and I wish everyone in NSW a very enjoyable and informative International Day of People with a Disability.

The Hon. Barry O’Farrell MP

Premier

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