UK disability activist in Malta

Disability activist Mark Harrison, from the De Montfort University in Leicester, UK is in Malta on the invitation of the National Commission for Persons with a Disability.

Yesterday evening he shared his experience of working within disabled groups with disabled activists in Malta.

The meeting was attended by members of the Maltese Council of Disabled Persons, a group set up a month ago and made up solely of disabled persons or organisations of disabled persons whose statute prohibits more than 49 per cent of members on the executive committee from being non-disabled.

The idea behind the group, which includes persons with a variety of disabilities, is for the disabled to work for themselves and not to have others working on their behalf. This trend towards self-advocacy was worldwide.

During his stay in Malta, Mr Harrison will also be a guest lecturer at the Diploma Course for Facilitators, being held at the university through Education Ministry funding.