Partners in achieving potential

"To be in partnership with individuals with disabilities, their families and the community and to promote and facilitate informed personal choices and meaningful lives."

Equal Partners Foundation is a parent-run, non-profit organisation providing community-based support services to persons with disability and/or learning difficulties. Currently the foundation is extending its services to over 120 member families.

Adopting an approach consistent with the social model of disability, one of the core principles of Equal Partners is that the services offered are personalised to each and every individual and family and are delivered in the community where it is required i.e. in the homes, schools, workplaces, places of recreation etc. The central aim of the foundation is to give people with disability an independent life in an inclusive society.

Since its launch in 1999, Equal Partners has been offering a range of services including psychological assessments, psychological and educational consultation, early intervention, individual educational programmes, home educator service, school consultation meetings, resource centre, training, recruitment of facilitators for schools, and a stepping out programme in the adult world.

Most of these services aim to maximise the potential of the individual and address thoroughly the educational needs of the person. Every member of Equal Partners has his/her own individualised educational programme (IEP) based on the strengths and limitations of the individual. This programme is designed in collaboration with the parents, the school and any other professionals involved in the person's life, and is then unfolded step-by-step with the child by our senior and junior professionals at home or at any other place where the person is receiving support.

The Foundation also works tirelessly to improve the scholastic life of children with disability. The work includes organising regular school consultation meetings for the parents, head of school, the class teacher and the facilitator. During these meetings, the team helps to develop the child's IEP in the context of the ordinary classroom. Mind maps, flash cards and alternative pedagogy styles are encouraged to be used with the children. The team is also involved in the setting up of a Peer Preparation Programme, which prepares the classmates for the arrival of a child with disability. The foundation also assists some schools to find people who are competent to work as facilitators.

Equal Partners Foundation also invests in the preparation of its professionals. Every professional follows induction training and is thereafter supported through constant supervision and continuous training.

Equal Partners also strives to educate the public and in collaboration with other agencies or organisations such as Id-Dar tal-Providenza, The University of Malta, organises workshops and courses to create awareness about disability and train people. The Induction Facilitators' Course organised by the foundation every year is receiving very good response from the public.

One of latest services of the foundation is the resource centre, which has various resource materials, which are available to members, parents and professionals involved with the foundation and other educators working in the field of disability free of charge.

All the programmes of the children are monitored and the foundation is having very encouraging results with most of the children especially with the inclusion of children with autism in ordinary schools.

For more information about the foundation or to sponsor a child's support programme, call at 52, Market Street, Floriana, or phone 21250400, fax 21250397 or send an e-mail to epf@waldonet.net.mt.