Achiever for disabled people nominated for European award

Rita Borg, the 31-year-old secretary of the Muscular Dystrophy Group and board member of the National Commission - Persons with Disability, has been nominated and shortlisted for the 14th European Women of Achievement Awards.

Ms Borg, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 11 and has been in a wheelchair ever since, is among the four finalists in the humanitarian category.

She is leaving for the UK tomorrow to attend the presentation of awards at London's Grosvenor House on Friday.

The European Women of Achievement Awards recognise and applaud women with an outstanding achievement in their chosen field, which has a significant European dimension. The judges look for individuals who have been pioneers, or instigators of success. Personal commitment, determination and ability to overcome obstacles are among the characteristics they seek.

Ms Borg was nominated by the National Commission - Persons with Disability, which described as one of her most significant achievements the "groundbreaking" development of the Personal Assistant Scheme.

The scheme ensures that persons with disability enjoy more independence through personal assistants, as do their European counterparts. Up until 1998, the service was only available to a few people for a few hours a month.

Ms Borg continued to strengthen the scheme and is working to expand it to persons with disability at work, so they can be provided with a personal assistant to support them, enhancing their chances of securing employment.

She has also been responsible for organising several conferences and seminars at a local, European and international level.

Ms Borg has been the secretary of the European Alliance of Neuromuscular Disorders Associations since 2002 and was last year elected as the official EAMDA delegate on the European Disability Forum, the umbrella group of the European disability organisations. Her work with EDMEA and EDF has ensured that the disability NGO sector continues to develop on a European level.

Ms Borg also sits on other boards, representing the commission and persons with disability, which she considers to be an advantage for the latter, having a better grasp of their situation and needs.

"I was surprised and never expected to be nominated by the commission," Ms Borg said, adding that she was even more surprised when she learned she had even been shortlisted, following a telephone interview.

"I appreciated the commission's belief in me, but being shortlisted for the award was another story," she said.

If she wins the award on Friday, "it would not be my victory, but that of all Maltese persons with disability, thanks to those people who believe that disabled persons are capable".

During her stay in the UK, Ms Borg is taking the opportunity to meet the UK Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, the British Council of Disabled People, the National Council on Independent Living and the European Network on Independent Living to exchange information. The idea is to visit their headquarters, see how they work and share information and work practices.

Among the problems in Malta is the lack of accessibility that persons with disability still faced, Ms Borg said. Education was also a major concern and important for persons with disability to find employment. Job opportunities were scarce and even those with a good education had problems, she said.

Ms Borg herself had to stop attending school when she was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and had to make do with only six hours of home tutoring weekly until she was 16.

Other categories of the awards include Arts and Media, Business, Entrepreneur, Professional and Sport. The humanitarian category deals with women who may be in paid employment, working for non-profit-making organisations, or for the public or private sector and do voluntary work in their spare time.

All nationalities are considered for the awards, provided they are based within the geographical boundaries of Europe.

Due to her condition, Ms Borg is being accompanied to the UK by two assistants, who are being sponsored by the Farsons Foundation, the Demajo Group, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Attard Services Ltd.