The government is drawing up a comprehensive register of people with disabilities in Malta to get a clear picture of the disabled population and their needs, Parliamentary Secretary for People with a Disability, Franco Mercieca said.
He said that, at the moment, there was a lack of comprehensive statistics that were necessary to ensure that the necessary services were in place.
Mr Mercieca was speaking during a conference organised by the National Commission for Persons with Disability entitled Inclusion, Participation and Accessibility and organised as part of the events to mark World Disability Day today.
He said the government was committed to ensure a fair society. It was working on standards for homes for disabled people and hoped to have the first draft in a few months.
KNPD executive director Anne-Marie Callus said that with the help of EU funds, the commission carried out a survey among 600 disabled people registered with the KNPD. The research would be published once feedback was obtained.
However, Amy Camilleri Zahra said that the results showed that the majority of those interviewed were over 70 - a pattern that existed internationally since aging was one of the main causes of impairment.
A total 53 per cent were married, 42.3 had two to three children and 33.7 had none.
When it came to education, 40.3 per cent reached primary school education, 33.7 per cent had secondary level education, 9.7 post-secondary, 8.2 per cent tertiary and four per cent no education.
33.2 per cent resided in the northern harbour and 23.3 per cent in the southern harbour.
When looking at the type of impairment, 81.2 per cent had a physical disability, 11.3 per cent visual, 11.8 per cent intellectual and 10 per cent hearing.
The largest group - 33 per cent - got their disability after they turned 60 while 17 per cent were disabled from birth. 48.5 per cent defined their disability as severe.
When it came to income, 41.7 per cent said this was based on their retirement pension, 17.7 per cent on their disability pension.
40.3 per cent earned €500 a month or less while 27 per cent earned between €500 and €700.
Relationship status showed that 59.9 per cent of men were in a relationship compared to 33 per cent of women. 14 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women wished to be in a relationship.
Alison Zammit said the research showed that 34.7 per cent lived with their partner at home, 18.5 per cent lived with their partner and children while 17.7 per cent lived with the people who raised them.
70.7 per cent said they decided where to live, 29 per cent said their family decided for them while 3.8 per cent said someone outside the family decided. Most, 96 per cent, were happy with their living arrangement with 3.7 per cent saying they wished to live on their own.
Bernard Busuttil said one of the questions was how they spend the day. Results showed that 24.5 per cent said they hardly went out. This was worrying, he said, and something to think about.
A total 7.8 per cent worked full time while two per cent worked part time. 23.3 per cent said they go abroad on holiday. 3.3 per cent carried out voluntary work in disability sector while 6.2 per cent carried out voluntary work in other sectors.
Respondents' most common daily activities included attending medical appointments, going out with family members, shopping and running errands, taking care of the house and going out with friends.
Opposition spokesman Stephen Spiteri said he would collaborate with the government to improve the sector.
Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola spoke about the need for more individual attention and services, such as impairment-related disability pensions.