Reluctance to appear on disability register

The National Commission Persons with Disability has urged persons with disability to register with it in order to ensure its database was updated.

Commission consultant Joe M. Pace said yesterday a number of people still regarded impairment and disability as stigmatising experiences.

He was speaking at the publication of the results of a new survey on persons with disability. Individuals were often reluctant to appear on the National Disability Register because they feared that personal details would be divulged, he said.

"Security and confidentiality are crucial aspects of the database and the KNPD takes pride in the fact that, since 1991, no personal details in the register have ever been divulged to third parties," he said.

According to the survey, 3,819, or 50.18 per cent of the persons taking part, have a physical impairment; 1,314, or 17.27 per cent, have an intellectual impairment; 636 or 8.36 per cent, have a hearing impairment, 493, or 6.48 per cent, have a psychological impairment and 757, or 9.95 per cent, have a visual impairment. Some of the respondents have more than one type of impairment.

Just over 55 per cent, 4,206, of the persons interviewed were male.

Other statistical information emerging from the survey is that 38 per cent, or 2,962, are over 60 years, an increase from 19.5 per cent registered in 1994 and 36.1 per cent in 1999.

Just under half of the respondents - 49.7 per cent - are employed with the government while 28.3 per cent are with the private sector.

Of those interviewed, 33.3 per cent reside in the northern harbour region and comprise 2.07 per cent of the population of the region.

The full survey results will be put on the commission's website, www.knpd.org, shortly.

In a message on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disability, commission chairman Joe Camilleri noted that the Equal Opportunities Act of 2000 was a leading force towards the necessary changes being carried out.

A lot of work had been done but still more was needed, he said as he highlighted sectors which should be given priority.

These included residential services and personal assistance to persons with disability, day services, and education and labour.

Mr Camilleri said the private sector needed to make a more concrete effort to start winning over its fear and prejudice where the employment of persons with disability was concerned.