Jutta Gauci, Naxxar
Equal Opportunity
With reference to the article by Claudia Calleja (The Sunday Times, March 1) entitled 'Teenager's fight to lead a normal life', and the letter by Joseph Camilleri entitled 'Plight of Wheelchair users' (The Sunday Times, March 8), the National Parent's Society for Persons with Disability (NPSPD) would like to express its support for Roberta Magri's efforts to lead a normal life.
We admire the fact that Ms Magri won't allow her disability to take over her life. And we agree with Mr Camilleri, chairman of the National Commission for People with Disability, that the disabled should speak up for their needs. Everybody wants to enjoy life, with or without disability, no matter what age.
We are aware of the obstacles a person with a disability has to deal with on a daily basis and the frustration that comes along with the recurrent lack of accessibility. NPSPD continuously strives to point out this out to the authorities and other relevant entities.
While we appreciate the great work of the National Commission for People with Disability, as well as an overall change towards better accessibility in general, there are many issues which are in need of urgent improvement.
Only around 25 per cent of buses are accessible to wheelchair users or people with a mobility problem. This means that public transport is practically inaccessible since it is impossible for a wheelchair user to plan outings based on the hope that a low floor coach will pass by.
Moreover, according to 'Access for All Design Guidelines', for every 10 parking bays there should be one reserved parking bay. It is evident that the situation is still far from the official guidelines.
Accessibility to public conveniences, pavements, zebra crossings, public beaches, shops, theatres and restaurants are just a few issues that need urgent improvement.
The situation is far from providing equal opportunities and not very encouraging for disabled people and their carers striving to lead a normal life when the attempt to plan every little detail for an accessible outing is ruined just by coming across a pavement without a ramp.
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Roberta Magri
Mar 23rd 2009, 22:45
First of all I would like thank you NPSPD for your support, I really appreciate. And secondly I would like to comment about Alexander Valenzia's comment. I believe that anyone who has a particular condition need to try to accept it, well you have to or else you can't move on with your life but I don't agree with Alexander that we just have to accept the fact that we have less rights than other "normal people" just because they don't care or lets say..there's not enough awareness. It's true that unfortunately it seems that we have to fight for something that it should've been already there but I'm not giving up. This is an important issue and I think that we should ALL speak up and try to voice our concern about it. Undoubtedly, giving up and live with it....is not the best solution in my opinion!
alexander valenzia
Mar 16th 2009, 08:54
oh please give me a break. i have been hearing the same story for the last fourteen years. ever since my son was born with a walking condition. how do you expect my son and others in his situation to speak up when we so called normal people do not care about them. there needs are just too expensive, we do not have the funds and besides there are not enough votes to go round which could swing an election one way or another. they are a minority. so live with it.
this is the truth, a fact of life and the best way around it is to go your own way and save your energy on other important matters rather than arguing with people who really use you when they need to impress. i know. been there myself.
let us support them in developing their character.