Studying With Disability was the theme of the seventh annual peace activity held on the university campus by the University Students' Catholic Movement (MKSU).
The aim of the activity, held on Friday, was to raise awareness about the inclusion of persons with a disability, primarily within the University campus.
MKSU president Mark Farrugia appealed for integration and the appreciation and value of diversity in human abilities through awareness, a change of attitudes and language and a better appreciation of a person's abilities rather than his disabilities.
He explained how Maltese society should abandon its view that disability is a Christian charity issue, a subject of misery and pity whereby persons adopt a superior and patronising attitude. The greatest ability that defines the human being is the ability to love and the inability to do so is perhaps the fundamental disability that characterises much of the world today.
Kevin Cutajar, a lawyer who works for a Maltese law firm, spoke about his experience as a student at the University of Malta some years ago. He explained how as a visually impaired student he had to overcome obstacles such as the limited non-visual academic resources at the time.
Other than problems relating to accessibility, one of the greatest challenges he faced was the perception by academics and staff alike towards his disability. Nevertheless, Dr Cutajar explained that progress has been made by the University over recent years, adding that at no time did he regret the fact that he spent 10 years furthering his education, successfully, within the University of Malta.
Marie Alexander, a member of the Access-Disability Support Committee at the University, discussed the importance of the document entitled The University Of Malta And Students With Disability 2007.
She explained how, through this document, the University is acknowledging that, while there is room for improvement with respect to accessibility and disability, it has made the first steps to make the necessary changes.
One of the challenges mentioned by Dr Alexander is that the duration of courses needs to be made more flexible according to the disabled student's needs.
Guests and students were invited to write their messages for inclusion on a "graffiti wall" with some of these messages being read out.
MKSU is a Catholic movement at the University whose aim is to promote Christian values through social commitment. The movement is supported by the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund.