Bad and good examples

The media care for and respect the disabled, no doubt about that. For, who doesn't? Yet our newspapers and sound and vision media do not exactly fall over themselves to cover the activities organised from time to time by the National Commission for Disabled People (NCDP), whose sole aim is to promote the good of the disabled.

Joe Camilleri is the commission's hugely gifted and totally dedicated chairman - and I invariably share a wry smile and a short joke about that reality whenever the NCDP does me the honour of inviting me to take part in some activity or other. We both know well enough how the media tick. It takes the expected presence of a minister to make media representatives turn up, and then only until that honourable lady or gentleman has given the scheduled address.

In mid-week the media excelled themselves. The commission met the President, no less. Yet only one media stable sent a representative along to cover the event. And that, one suspects, because Social Policy Minister John Dalli was also to be present.

The pity of such absences lies not only in the untypical demonstration of lack of interest and sensitivity by the media, but also because not infrequently there are gems of worthwhile news on such occasions. Take last Wednesday. Among other things the level of disabled employees in employment came up during the meeting between the President and the commission.

Such participation in gainful occupation is important. It is one tangible confirmation that the disabled are not children of a lesser God. That our economy can and does offer suitable openings which it is within the ability of disabled workers to fill properly. That prejudice against the disabled is not rampant.

Sadly, such evidence is not in readily-available broad existence. Whatever employers might say and however righteous they may be individually, there is on-the-job prejudice among a wide range of them. The disabled do not speak about it much, but it happens.

I came across a lesson-teaching instance of it in my early working days, when I joined the UK Services establishments in Malta as a clerk. Before the end of my first day at such an establishment in Safi I was told not to report for work there again. When, astounded, I enquired why, I was told that the Flight Lieutenant in charge of the office, on noticing that my left arm was not whole, had concluded that I would not be able to handle filing cabinets.

I was beside myself with anger and disgust. I told the person who had communicated to me the flight lieutenant's decision that I could bounce the officer and his partner on my knee, whatever shape she or he enjoyed, and handle as many filing cabinets as required in the process.

There aren't many such clear-cut cases of stupid prejudice, and I never met again an officer as disgusting as that flight lieutenant. Yet there does exist embedded discrimination against the disabled. Reality check: count the number of disabled employees in any establishment you are familiar with, and you'll quickly get enough proof.

And that in a context where all establishments other than very micro ones are bound by law to make up to two per cent of their job opportunities available to people with disabilities. Do employers do that? A harsh laugh must be the reality reply.

Amazingly, not even the government has anything like that percentage of disabled people in its employment. Talk of setting the wrong example, and laugh again, sadly this time.

By staying away from the President/commission meeting on Wednesday the media missed out on the news that George Abela advised the National Commission for the Disabled that he was up to something. In due course the Community Chest Fund, which is chaired by his wife, Margaret Abela, will be taking on two disabled employees. And the direct Presidency will soon take on another one.

Three out of a staff of around 55 - not a bad ratio. And the Employment and Training Authority will be doing its important bit by offering the selected individuals suitable training under one of its programmes.

I'm sure that the President is not acting out of pity - he must know the disabled hate that. He is simply doing what is right. There is popular agreement that Abela is doing extremely well in the position he has occupied for only less than four months. He and his wife have fitted into the Presidency like a hand in a right-sized glove.

How many employers will follow their example, even as they heap praise upon them for being a charming and dedicated national symbol? Forgive my cynicism, but I must say I'm not holding my breath over the count.