Miki Matheson, a three-time Paralympic gold medalist for Japan, has addressed the United Nations, urging the international community to work harder to reach out to people with disabilities.

The Tokyo native explained on Thursday how roughly 20 years ago a car accident left her wheelchair bound, dramatically altering her life. After sustaining a spinal cord injury, she went on to become an ice sledge speed racer, eventually making a name for herself in the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano. She won three golds and a silver medal.

"The most shocking thing after my accident was when I realized how differently society viewed and treated persons with disabilities," the 42-year-old said on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.