Rosie Attard was 17 years old and driving to her final Year 12 assembly, when she swerved to avoid an animal on the road.

Key points: Rosie Attard suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash in 2011 and lost the use of her legs

Rosie Attard suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash in 2011 and lost the use of her legs She has since worked hard to become an early childhood educator

She has since worked hard to become an early childhood educator Her story has been published in a children's book, Rosie's Wheels, which aims to break down social stereotypes around disability

In that moment, her world was turned upside down.

When Ms Attard's car crashed, she suffered a spinal cord injury and lost the use of her legs.

She had to spend the next year in a Sydney rehabilitation centre.

"My 18th birthday was in rehab … it was very tough and at a crucial time, as all our friends were leaving school and working out where we were going in life," she said.

Ms Attard had been going to school at Wauchope, on the New South Wales mid north coast, and said it took time to make the arrangements so she could return home.

"There were a few hurdles to get over, including whether we could come home, as we have no public transport," she said.

"Then I found out there was a chance I could drive, and driving made coming home to Port Macquarie a possibility, then we modified our house and then it was home-time, after a whole year.

"Getting home was one of the best feelings, to be back around our support group."

Following a dream to work with children

Rosie Attard receives lots of cuddles from children at the child care and preschool centre where she works. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

Being in a wheelchair has not dampened Ms Attard's enthusiasm for life.

She always wanted to work with young children and was determined to still make that happen, despite the extra physical challenges.

Now, eight years after her accident in 2011, Ms Attard is an early childhood educator.

"I knew before my accident I wanted to work with kids, they are fun and bright and that's what I wanted to surround my world with," she said.

"So for years, children have been my passion and now I am here.

"It's very warming and very rewarding as well, it's an easy job to do, they are hilarious, they say the funniest things.

"The kids don't particularly see the wheelchair so much, they just accept it as part of who I am and embrace it."

Rosie's Wheels: Breaking down social barriers

Rosie Attard and Annette Holley read Rosie's Wheels to a group of children at a child care centre. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

It was the innocent acceptance shown by the young children in her care that encouraged Ms Attard to share her story.

It is now the subject of a children's book called Rosie's Wheels, which has been written by Ms Attard's former occupational therapist, Annette Holley.

"It's great to raise awareness and show that even though I am in a chair I am just like anyone else and anything is possible," Ms Attard said.

Rosie's story is being used to teach children that people can still achieve positive things even after a life-changing accident. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

"Some of my biggest challenges have been social perception. Adults would see the chair and judge and often think that I can't do most things.

"A lot of the time people's opinions would either go from some thinking I have just hurt my ankle to avoiding eye contact as though it's contagious.

Rosie's Wheels was created by Annette Holley. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

"The children never see that and if we start with them young, and teach them young, that it's nothing, it's just normal and I am just like anyone else, then it's a good place to start."

Ms Holley said after meeting Rosie at a rehabilitation centre in Sydney she became inspired to share her story.

"When Rosie started doing some work experience in the preschool the little people were just so interested and so curious and so responsive," Ms Holley said.

"We thought, there's this whole education process that we hadn't even considered.

Young children listen to the book that has been written about Rosie Attard. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

"Rosie was educating a whole community and that was really exciting because it's these little people who are going to be making the decisions down the track and that's going to improve access and so many things."

A favourite among the children

Rosie Attard always knew she wanted to work with children. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

Ms Holley recently read Rosie's Wheels out loud to young children at the child care and preschool centre where Ms Attard works at Wauchope.

Ms Attard was a clear favourite among the children and received many cuddles, answering the children's direct questions with honest and simple explanations.

"There was an animal on the road and I tried to miss it and I rolled my car. My back got hurt and my legs went to sleep. I drive my special car, and have controls I use with my hands, so I don't need pedals, and I have a lift in my house," she said.

"When I want to go to bed I park my wheelchair next to my bed and lift my bottom across."

Rosie is a favourite educator among the preschool children at the centre where she works at Wauchope. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

Ms Holley said it was great for young children to see someone in a wheelchair still following their dreams.