The transition from school to adult life may not be easy for many young people. It is by far harder for people with intellectual disabilities.
Anabel Mifsud, Executive Manager at Equal Partners Foundation, believes that youths with intellectual disabilities are finding little support that ensures a smoother transition into adulthood after they finish school. "These youths should be educated towards social and emotional autonomy. They need to be supported to acquire basic skills that help them get by in life and preferably this would take place within an inclusive setting. This kind of support could be helpful to everyone, and not only to youths with disability."
Over the years, Equal Partners Foundation has developed the Stepping-Out Programme, which sets out to facilitate the process into adulthood of persons with intellectual impairment. The programme seeks to support these adolescents towards more autonomous behaviour and a better quality of life in the community. The following are some of the areas which the programme addresses: use of public transport, appropriate street behaviour, use of money, use of public services, communication, self-awareness, building relationships, etc. This programme also intends to equip these youngsters with the prerequisites for work and a proper work ethic. This programme is run by a team of young and motivated educators, who together with a group of young volunteers and university students, form a group of young people with mixed abilities. The entire project is being monitored by a consultant psychologist and a consultant educator.
It was thanks to this programme that 11 youngsters with intellectual disabilities recently visited Rome on a youth exchange. This meant going abroad without their parents for the first time, a significant step towards independence.
The exchange was co-organised with the Italian Association for Persons with Down Syndrome (Associazione Italiana Persone Down). This project was partially funded by the Youth Programme through the European Commission, and followed an earlier exchange during which young members from the Italian Association visited Malta last year. The Maltese youths were accompanied by three young voluntary workers and two leaders.
Ms Mifsud said: "Their parents were naturally concerned about their children going abroad without them, but most of them agreed that this was going to be a positive experience for the youngsters.
"Our eight-day stay in Rome was an unforgettable experience, including the long and tiring journey on our way to the pensione on the first evening, which included travelling on public transport.
She said the week was packed with interesting activities. "Some days were spent sightseeing around places of cultural and historical heritage in the hub of this vibrant city. We visited the several piazzas; including Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia and the small piazza where Fontana di Trevi is found. We also visited the Altare della Patria, Palazzo Senatorio which seats the Comune di Roma, the Vatican and the Pantheon. The latter was just a stone's throw away from the pensione where we were staying.
"We travelled around using mainly public transport. This was a positive experience for the youngsters. As educators we are aware of the importance of knowing how to use public transport to go around. But we still walked a lot around the city. It was amazing to see a whole group of 30 people crossing the chaotic streets of Rome using the zebra crossings, all of us with our arms stretched out to signal impatient drivers to stop!"
The group was also involved in other activities. They were invited to a fancy-dress carnival party at a nearby nightclub. On one evening they cooked a three-course Italian dinner together, while on Sunday they visited Bracciano and Castello Odescalchi - the castle in which Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes recently got married.
The group also received a special invitation to visit the Italian parliament. They met Arnold Cassola who answered some questions which the Maltese and the Italian youths had with regard to their rights as European citizens, vocational training and work opportunities. One of the most important aspects was that the youths met with five adults with Down Syndrome who live together independently in a home with the 24-hour support of social workers.
"This youth project was an exciting learning experience for the whole group. For the youngsters with mental disabilities it meant the first time travelling abroad and living independently from their parents. For us educators it was a revealing experience that will contribute to our professional development. Certainly these youngsters rubbed off an indelible joie de vivre which we will carry with us along the way.
Equal Partners Foundation supports over 170 partner families with members who have a disability and/or a learning difficulty. Lifelong person-centred support is offered by a team of 32 professionals in the natural environment where the individual needs support including at home, school, and in the community at large. The Foundation also offers continuous supported employment through a social cooperative in agriculture.
For more information phone 2125 0400 or e-mail epf@waldonent.net.mt.