Some cannot see. Others cannot hear or walk.

But for the dozens of musicians, chefs, artists and entertainers who will converge on South Beach on Friday for the city's first Disability Awareness Day, it isn't what they lack, but what they do, that defines them.

``So many people with disabilities have great talents, great strength and great courage, and that is really something to be admired,'' said David New, chairman of the city's Disability Access Committee, which founded the event.

New, who is blind, said Friday's festivities began as a proposal to unveil the city's new audible pedestrian crosswalks for the blind. But he said the day has since grown into a vast expo that will not only raise awareness about the difficulties of having a disability, but also showcase the talents of the disabled while exposing them to helpful programs and products they may not know about.

Disability Awareness Day kicks off at 9 a.m. inside the City Hall commission chambers, where Mayor Matti Bower, several city commissioners and other city employees will volunteer to spend the day with a simulated disability, such as wearing a blindfold or having an arm tied behind the back.

``We wanted people in office, people who make decisions affecting life on a daily basis, to get a sense of what it means in life to have a disability on Miami Beach,'' New said, joking that business at City Hall will come to ``a grinding halt.''

The day's entertainment begins at 1 p.m. at the Miami Beach Community Church, where artist, entertainer and educator Conni Gordon will teach two disabled war veterans and others how to paint. At the same time, more than 40 organizations and companies that service the disabled will be at the church, promoting their products and services.

Later, at the Lincoln Road Mall, recipes for a seven-layer taco dip, chicken sandwich, and special chocolate pie will be on display as Cooking Without Looking, a cooking show for the blind, films an episode.

Re'nee Rentmeester, the founder of the television show, which airs in South Florida on WXEL-PBS 42, said Friday's events are a chance for those with disabilities to show what they can do.

``It's about the ability, not the disability,'' she said.

A number of other performers will also contribute during the day, including a deaf theatrical group, blind dancers and a rock band directed by a quadriplegic.

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