It is less than one year until Tokyo throws open its doors to the world and just 396 days until the Paralympics gets underway.

Unfortunately in many parts of the world, including southeast Asia, disabilities are still discriminated against.

However, this could change when the Paralympics comes to town. The 2012 London Paralympics was one of the most successful events of its kind, and a history-making one too, with 2.7 million tickets sold. 

The result of London having the Paralympics also saw increased accessibility to buildings and public transport, while social awareness about disabilities has changed. 

This is, unfortunately, something lacking in Tokyo.

De Rozario believes that just like London, Tokyo could leave a lasting legacy. 

"I think one of the most amazing things about the Paralympics, is it just visibility, it's getting to see people competing in elite sport and being athletes," the 25-year-old said.

"And I think that at a Paralympic Games your identifier is as an athlete and not a person with a disability.

"I think most of our sports that once you see it, it's hard not to fall in love with it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pretty cool to hang out w the only human too small for my race chair. 📸 @holdfast_photography

A post shared by Madison de Rozario (@madison.____) on

"Being in Tokyo, being in Japan, I think the visibility has so much potential to change perceptions across the board as it did in London.

"I think that's the power of it is just changing socially how we view disability and I think it's absolutely going to do that next year in Tokyo."

When she was young, de Rozario didn't think she was any different from her two siblings. The Perth native has transverse myelitis, a neurological disease, and has used a wheelchair since the age of four.