As part of the 2015 pre-Budget consultation process, the National Parents’ Society of Persons with Disability made a number of suggestions for measures we need to be implemented in the forthcoming Budget so that the quality of life of persons with disability and their parents and carers would improve. Most such persons are already below the poverty line.

Last year’s Budget included a concession for disabled persons to retain their non-contributory disability pension irrespective of their earnings through employment.

We suggest this be extended to those disabled persons who, due to their condition and limitations, cannot be gainfully employed but have an income through a trust or any other sources set up by their parents and irrespective of any amount of inheritance or donation. This will encourage parents and carers to plan ahead and set up appropriate trusts, inheritance or donation without the worry that their disabled son or daughter may eventually lose his or her right to a disability pension.

There is no programme in place intended to develop work-related skills for people with disability aged over 16 that can be followed during the summer months. This is a major problem being faced by working parents, especially those having children with disability, particularly wheelchair users, because they have no place where their children can attend for training (or otherwise) during work time. Generally, these cannot stay at home on their own.

Society should provide the required resources for everybody to have a decent quality of life

Students who attend the Pathway course at Mcast finish school mid-June and do not return prior to early or mid-October (for 2015).

The Guardian Angel Resource Centre is only open Tuesdays to Thursdays between 9am and 1.30pm. The basic skills Leap programme by St Lazarus Foundation is only available in the evenings, in premises that are not wheelchair accessible. The sheltered employment course offered by ETC does not cater for wheelchair users who need toileting assistance, and training starts at 10am.

The above mean there are no family-friendly facilities, resulting in hardships to parents.

It is strongly recommended that programmes for physically disabled students attending the Mcast Pathway course, and possibly others, will be set as from mid-June 2016 focusing on work skills, such as office duties and computer use, between 8.30am and 2pm.

This would develop and enhance capabilities and give peace of mind to parents while they are at work, thus keeping them (often highly qualified individuals) in the workforce instead of obliging them to resign or take unpaid leave.

This would mean that over three-and-a-half summer months would not be wasted but instead serve as an investment if adequate funds are allocated.

Learning support assistants are being provided to children who attend Skolasajf at government schools. Funds are required to ensure that if students who normally attend a private or Church school wish to continue doing so, the LSA’s fee is paid by the government and not by the parents.

There should be an increase in the pension being paid to people with disability who cannot work, because this is below 60 per cent of the minimum wage and is not adequate for such people to live on.

Parents and carers who dedicate their lives for the full-time caring of their severely disabled children and who, due to their commitment, are not able to seek gainful employment, should qualify for a carer’s allowance or pension similar to those who care for an elderly parent.

Funds should be provided to local councils to provide community participation opportunities to disabled persons in their locality.

These could include facilities for socialising (special youth centres), cultural activities and accessible leisure, sport and educational opportunities on an equal level as provided to other members of the community.

It is hoped that this sector would have the required support by Maltese society considering that, as was indicated above, families having a person with a disability do not benefit from public charity campaigns.

Society should provide the required resources for everybody to have a decent quality of life.

Saviour Scerri is PRO of the National Parents’ Society of Persons with Disability.