Natalie Wilson, 11, makes friends with Chicken Noodle Soup, a trained service dog brought by representatives of The Woodlands, at a special needs expo held Wednesday at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.

CRANBERRY TWP — Acceptance starts with awareness, and awareness starts with education.

That was Officer Scott Bailey’s message at the Abilities Expo hosted by the Cranberry Area Diversity Network’s Special Needs Coalition Wednesday evening at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.

Bailey, a police officer with Robert Morris University and the Aspinwall Police Department, was among speakers and 25 community groups from around the region who were brought together to educate people about the special needs community.

At panel discussions, four people with special needs shared their experiences, their challenges and things they want people to know about them.

Kelcie Gilbert, a high school senior who has autism, said she wishes people realized that sometimes she doesn’t understand social cues and needs more personal space than others. Not everyone has a visible disability, she said, so people should be more understanding of those who have different needs.

A full report appeared in the Butler Eagle.