As the poor will be with us always, so will the disabled, in some form or another. To some extent we are all disabled, if only at an extreme through lack of awareness and understanding of the positive place that disabled persons have in the civil and the economic sphere. But those with clearer signs of disability will always be around, a challenge to themselves as well as to society at large.
There are various degrees of disability. It is only in the extreme case of individuals with too severe learning disability that they do not challenge themselves to achieve. The old idea that the disabled are people to be pitied and, at best, helped as a burden is now only to be found in individuals who do not recognise their own severe disability in not being able to think as people with minimum intelligence.
In many fields of disability there are people who strive to overcome their constraints by choosing the path they feel is most suited for them to advance and be part of the mainstream, not a segment to be seen to only through charitable eyes. Parallel with that they challenge society at large to recognise that they have not been created by some different – or indifferent – God, that their rights are no less than those of fellow citizens.
They call out for appreciation of the fact that within them there is worth to be nurtured so that it may fructify – for their own benefit, yes, but also for the rest of the socio-economic milieu which encompasses all of us. That is not to say that they are blind to their differences. They recognise and accept them and seek to use them as a spur on themselves to perform. They also expect the society they live in to give due recognition to such differences and, where possible, provide the means for them to be overcome.
Such means can often be provided without much additional cost to others. Accessibility is one example. It costs nothing at all for new buildings, constructed for whatever purpose, to reflect that it is in the interest of their promoters to ensure that they are accessible to one and all, including to those who use wheelchairs.
Which is why, for instance, the National Commission for Disabled Persons recently took part in a seminar on Accessible Tourism organised by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism with the participation of its head, Mario de Marco. The Commission’s indefatigable chairman, Joseph M. Camilleri and architect Joseph Spiteri made presentations to the seminar. Talks are ongoing to make tourism more accessible to all. The Malta Tourism Authority is gathering information regarding accessible facilities and services for disabled persons.
This is reported in the Commission’s summer edition of its publication Equals, which reached me the other day. It is replete with up-to-date succinct reports which are of general importance, as are the disabled. It starts off with a message from Mr Camilleri, containing points each of which is worth a paper, not a mere mention in an article.
Mr Camilleri recalls that one of the greatest challenges faced by disabled persons was that of inclusive education. Quoting Churchill he says that now we are at the end of the beginning in this sphere. Much has been done but such a huge task can never be completed. Mr Camilleri goes to the heart of the matter – choice. Together with their parents, disabled youths demand more choice in their life – to continue with their studies, to train to find useful work, to be financially independent, to live as adults, with adults.
The Commission emphasises, in particular, the need for more job opportunities. Towards that aim it has published a National Policy on Employment and Persons with Disability, which includes relevant recommendations.
The government is doing a lot for the disabled, as no doubt will the opposition if and when it gains office. Once again it has to be said that “a lot” can never be enough. Demands on public expenditure are huge, and not easy to meet even at the best of times. But the needs of the disabled have a high priority. The July edition of Equals contains some of the reasons why. It is required reading for policymakers and a much broader spectrum than that represented by the disabled and those who love and care for them.