MORE than 60 people will come together for the Trinity Disability Support Service Disability Action Week dinner on 23 September to celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities.

The dinner will kick off from 6.30pm at Southport Sharks Club in the Oval View Room and will include a two course dinner, guest speakers, entertainment and lucky door prizes.

Queenslanders will celebrate Disability Action Week from 18 to 24 September 2011 and this year’s theme is Empower, enable, everybody. One in five Queenslanders has a disability of some kind, and disability touches most Queenslanders’ lives in some way.

The keynote speaker at the dinner is Sunshine Coast artist Peter Rowe who was born with Down Syndrome and could barely express his thoughts and emotions for 30 years. He is now empowered, through a technique called facilitated communication, to form words by pointing to letters on a keyboard. 

Art, music and creative writing have since shaped Peter’s inspiring career which has included self-publishing seven children’s books. He said a disability should not hold anyone back from following their dreams.

“Don’t give up, my chance was a long time coming but now I hold it in my hands,” he said.

“It has meant the world to me to be able to express myself through art and writing – it is very therapeutic and has helped me to become who I am.

“People with a disability want to be heard, treated equally and fairly, have a place in the community and contribute to society.”

Trinity Disability Support Service Manager Edmund McMahon said he is committed to bettering the lives of Trinity’s 29 clients and to ensuring the community is safe, welcoming and inclusive of people with disabilities.

“This event will help present disability in a positive light and profile people like Peter Rowe, who have struggled with a disability but now inspire others, who enrich the community through their experiences,” he said

“Everybody has a role in creating a truly welcoming and inclusive community, from businesses to community organisations and individuals.

“People with disabilities want a whole-of-life approach, the multiple barriers they face removed and a safe, secure and welcoming environment.”

The dinner venue is located at the corner of Musgrave and Olsen Avenues Southport. People interested in attending can telephone Trinity on (07) 5564 7888 to make a booking.

In 2010, more than 150 community events were registered on the Disability Action Week website.