Children with disabilities have joined hundreds of Sydneysiders to welcome home Australia's Paralympic heroes after a top-five finish at the Rio Games.
Surrounded by flags, streamers and admirers at Martin Place, 15-year-old swimmer Tiffany Thomas Kane, said she was pleased the national campaign had brought para-sports into the mainstream.
"I think it definitely has, considering the results we got, the medals we won and world records and even PBs [personal bests] that people got," the Paralympian who bagged one gold and three bronze medals, said on Tuesday.
The Australian Paralympic Team won 22 gold medals, 30 silver and 29 bronze in Brazil last month, maintaining a top-five finishing streak since the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Thomas Kane's message for young athletes with disabilities was to "just do it".
"No matter how young you are or old you are ... just do as much training as you can then that could be you [at the Paralympics] one day," she said.
"I'm only 15 and I made it."
Quadraplegic Ben Ackland's mate, Andrew Edmondson was part of the men's wheelchair rugby team who beat world No 1. America 59-58.
"I played wheelchair rugby [for NSW] with a lot of these guys so I know them quite well," he said.
"It means a lot. They've done us all proud.
""It great to get that wider recognition within the community."
