Disabled People's Parliament underscores need for accessibility

The consensus that issues related to disabled persons enjoyed from both sides of the House was highlighted at the Disabled People's Parliament, held at the President's Palace yesterday.

MPs from both parties agreed on accessibility, which, after all, benefitted everyone, and that it was not enough to ratify the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disability without the necessary resources to implement it.

The MPs appealed to private employers - and government institutions - to believe in the abilities of persons with disability.

Malta still had to make that mental leap to recognise the value of their contribution, which should be considered an investment, it was pointed out. More also needed to be done in terms of higher and vocational education for persons with disability.

Only Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat burst the consensus bubble, raising what he termed two "uncomfortable" points, on which he said agreement did not exist.

One was the fate of persons with disability once their parents died, with institutionalisation being the only alternative so far; and the other that all schools should accept persons with disability.

The Disabled People's Parliament, organised by the National Commission Persons with Disability, marked the end of a week dedicated to persons with disability.

They took the opportunity to highlight the lack of work opportunities, appealing to be considered persons who could contribute to society.

Accessibility was not just physical and persons with disability also deserved access to cultural life, media and politics, apart from employment and education.