Werribee resident Louise Bugeja is on a mission to help empower people with disabilities. 87681 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By VANESSA VALENZUELA
LIVING with a disability hasn’t been easy for Louise Bugeja.
But the strong-willed Werribee resident is determined to become a positive role model for others.
The 38-year-old has been legally blind since birth but it hasn’t stopped her from working in the community services sector for more than 20 years.
“The main reason I wanted to work in this sector is to empower people with disabilities that they are equal to anyone else in society,” Ms Bugeja said.
“I hate people with disabilities being seen as a pity case. To me, they’re just people with different abilities and we all have something to offer the community.”
Ms Bugeja has been involved in a number of volunteering roles throughout her life, and has always been a strong voice for people with disabilities.
She said it was disappointing to see that children are still “afraid” of people with disabilities and she hopes to teach primary school students that having a disability isn’t abnormal.
Ms Bugeja said involving herself in the community and volunteering her time was a great way to help empower other people with disabilities.
“The more people see people with disabilities achieving, the more they will realise we are the same type of person,” she said.
Ms Bugeja recently became the newest member of the Rotary Club of Hoppers Crossing and said she was delighted when the club had welcomed her with open arms.
“It was really nice to feel welcome and know that people wanted to know about me, rather than shying away from me,” she said.
“It was a friendly and wonderful environment to walk into.”
Ms Bugeja said she hopes to inspire others to get involved in the community and help dispel the misconceptions about people with disabilities.
