Corinne Grech, the intellectually disabled woman who did not realise she was pregnant, will be able to earn money to help support her baby girl now that she has been offered a job in a clothes’ store.
“Despite the fact that she is mentally disabled, since she gave birth to Mariah, Corinne has understood more than ever how important it is for her to be able to work to support her child,” said her sister-in-law, Taina Grech.
Corinne has understood more than ever how important it is for her to be able to work to support her child
Last week, The Times published the story of Corinne who wanted to find a job to help out with expenses that increased when she had her daughter, who also has a disability.
After the story was published, clothing company Dizz Limited offered her a job sorting out things in its clothes’ stores, something Corinne said she would be able to do.
Company director Diane Izzo said she felt it was important for companies to support disabled people and help out if they could.
“We tried to find a job that is suitable for her. I put myself in her shoes… It’s important that people with disabilities are given a chance to work,” Ms Izzo said.
Ms Grech only realised that her sister-in-law was expecting a baby eight months into the pregnancy.
The father, whose family prefer to remain anonymous, also has an intellectual disability. The two got to know each other about six years ago when they attended what was then called the Eden Foundation for people with disabilities.
Mariah suffers from global developmental delay and has a missing chromosome.
She is developing slowly and, although she is now 13 months old, she looks like a six-month-old child.
This placed a lot of emotional and financial stress on the Grech family.
Corinne had previously worked under employment schemes but when the scheme ended she was out of a job.
The lack of employment opportunities for disabled people is one of the main concerns raised by the National Commission Persons With Disability.
Providing a job for Corinne solved one case but what about all the other disabled people who struggle to find work?
The Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability, Franco Mercieca, said one of the main aims of this legislature was to create a strong structure for supported employment, which was vital to independent living.
He said his secretariat would work to raise awareness to maximise social inclusion on all levels, especially with regard to employment.
The Government planned to launch various projects and initiatives that offered educational, financial and active support to disabled people and planned to review, update and strengthen relevant legislation.
Mr Mercieca said that after Corinne’s story was published in The Times he met her and her family.
“We must emphasise the need for inclusion of Corinne and people like her. By doing so we ensure that families can continue to live a normal life as much as possible,” he said, thanking companies that employed disabled people and encouraging others to practise corporate social responsibility.