IN PICTURES: Albany celebrates 2024 All Abilities Festival for International Day of People with Disability

Albany Town Square was awash with colour and music on Tuesday as about 500 people attended the All Abilities Festival to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

The festival included 45 arts and crafts stalls plus music, food and dancing, and was one of 105 events across WA recognising the value of community inclusion and advocacy.

Organiser and Great Southern Legal Services senior disability advocate Denise Kay said it was “a great day”.

“The sun was pretty scorching hot but the wind was nice, and we made sure we had plenty of shelter, sunscreen, water and stuff for people to help themselves to,” she said.

Attendees enjoyed drumming, a choir performance from Singability, dancing and Albany Youth Support Association’s sausage sizzle fundraiser.

“The drumming was brilliant — we had it run twice and that brings loads of people in because they hear the drums, and everyone participates,” Ms Kay said.

Disability Services Minister Don Punch said an estimated 515,600 people — or 19 per cent of West Australians — live with some form of disability.

“International Day of People with Disability and the events and activities held around Western Australia to mark it are always a highlight of the calendar as an opportunity for inclusion, celebration and recognition, not to mention fun,” he said.

“The Cook Government is committed to building a more inclusive WA, where people with disability are engaged and able to live as they choose in a community where everyone belongs.”