A number of advances in the disability sector made 2012 an “extraordinary year”, National Commission Persons with Disability chairman Joe Camilleri said.
Our ambition is that the disability sector becomes a model of the way social policies are crafted
Mr Camilleri cited Malta’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as one of the highlights. This enabled the commission to prepare a report on its implementation.
One of the biggest headaches for parents of disabled children is the inevitable question of what would happen to the child after their death. That was the reason why, Mr Camilleri added, the enactment of the much-awaited guardianship law was of such importance.
The commission celebrated its 25th anniversary with Mass at the Immaculate Conception church in Cospicua, previously one of the most inaccessible churches for people with mobility problems. “Nowadays, it is perfectly accessible. We would therefore like to encourage other churches to ensure accessibility for the disabled.”
Adapted Driving Motoring School, a motoring school encompassing modified vehicles, was opened in 2012.
Last year also saw the publication of Access for All, a set of guidelines that Mr Camilleri hoped would soon be adopted as national standards and, ultimately, as regulations.
After 15 years of pressure, the University of Malta set up a Disability Studies Unit within the Faculty of Social Well-being, which was being coordinated by a disabled person. Mr Camilleri said he hoped the unit would be developed into a department.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability, Franco Mercieca said the Government was committed to strengthening the commission and working towards social justice.
He said it would focus on setting up residential services, generating employment for the disabled and implementing the UN’s convention.
Youth studies lecturer Andrew Azzopardi had been appointed as a consultant to work closely with the commission, Mr Mercieca said.
“Our aim is that the disability sector becomes a model of the way social policies are crafted, with the Government ultimately taking a secondary role,” he added.