Kaitie Francis was always told they would never be able to drive a car, but their dream of hitting the road is now much closer to becoming a reality.

The 20-year-old is just one of 20 people who have been gaining confidence behind the wheel thanks to a driving simulator which has been made available by a regional disability support service provider.

Kaitie was born with mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 hurler syndrome (MPS type 1) and was deemed legally blind from a young age.

“My whole body is affected by the condition, and I am short-statured [too], so I always knew driving a car would be hard because I am so short,” they said.

“I never had the same experience as other country kids, who could just drive around, because I was always told I would never be able to drive.”

But following a cornea transplant in 2022, Kaitie sat and passed the written exam to get their licence.