Two Maltese students, Steven Mulvaney and Kira Muscat, were among 78 young people with disabilities and special educational needs from 29 European countries who gathered on September 16 and 17 in Lisbon for a two-day discussion with European VIPs and decision-makers regarding their education, be it inclusive or special education.
The hearing, entitled "Young Voices: Meeting Diversity in Education", which took place in the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon, was immaculately organised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education and the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education within the framework of Portuguese EU Presidency.
This was a conference unlike any other. For the first time, young European people with disabilities had the opportunity to present their school experiences in front of Portuguese and European VIPs and decision-makers, among them the President of the Assembleia da República, Dr Jaime Gama, the Portuguese Minister of Education, Dr Ma. de Lurdes Rodrigues and Secretary of State for Education, Dr Valter Lemos, as well a personal representative of Ján Figel, European Commission member responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth.
The two or three young people from each country taking part in the event were selected to represent secondary, vocational and higher education.
The young delegates, accompanied by 82 helpers and family members, were given VIP treatment throughout their stay. In total, more than 250 persons attended. Interpretation facilities were provided for 15 languages. The young participants got to know each other, made new friendships and shared their experiences through the meetings and social events that took place the day before the hearing in the Parliament.
Each country's ministry of education, together with the Portuguese authorities and the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education, made it possible for the participants to attend the event. The Maltese delegates participated thanks to the Maltese Ministry of Education.
Besides Malta, the participants came from Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Latvia, Ireland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Spain, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, The Netherlands, Lithuania, Luxembourg, France, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Austria, and Germany.
Visit the Website: www.eu2007.min-edu.pt/np4/en/26.html for more information on the event. The Website of the Denmark-based European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education is www.european-agency.org/site/index.html and the e-mail address of its European liaison office in Brussels is: brussels. office@european-agency.org