OPR- Friday, 1st October - St. Julians

No one can deny that the quality of life of persons with disability in the Maltese islands has changed considerably, for the better, over the last fifty years.  During the nineteen fourties and nineteen fifties the first non-government organisations for disabled persons were set up.  These had as their aims rehabilitation and residential care, their structures were based on charity and voluntary work.

Notable among the initiatives of the nineteen sixties was the setting up of the Dar tal-Providenza residence by Monsignor Mikiel Azzopardi.  Monsignor Azzopardi can also be credited with helping to change Maltese people’s view of persons with disability.  Often regarded with fear and disdain, shunned and hidden from view, disabled persons were a stigmatised minority, Monsignor Azzopardi taught us to see disabled persons in a more positive and sympathetic light.

Over the succeeding decades we can say that disabled persons in Malta were looked upon with affection and sympathy, but rarely understood.  Public and private initiatives were always well-meaning, but usually fragmented.  Furthermore, policies and practices were mostly focused on small improvements in individuals’ quality of life and the alleviation of more obvious hardship.  The main burden of care and support lay squarely with the family.  Throughout this time the general understanding was that disabled persons would remain forever in the care of their families and ultimately the State.  The concepts of independent living, productive employment, quality of life, and equal opportunities were, as yet, unheard in Malta.

During the nineteen eighties new ideas began to filter through.  When the United Nations declared 1981 as the International Year of Persons with Disability, this helped to light a spark in the minds of a number of Maltese parents of disabled persons.  The nineteen eighties saw the setting up of a number of non-government organisations in the disability field.  Amongst their first concerns was the issue of education, especially the education of all disabled children, including children with an intellectual disability, in the mainstream.  Pressure began to be placed on the state to bring about changes which were based on priorities set by parents of persons with disability, rather than by bureaucrats.

In 1987, parent power led to the setting up of the National Commission for the Handicapped, as it was then known.  The Commission was set up in direct response to Article 89 of ‘The World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons’, which stated that, and I quote from the World Programme of Action issued in 1981:

“… Governments should establish a focal point (for example, a national commission, committee or similar body) to look into and follow the activities related to the World Programme of Action of various ministries, of other government agencies and of non-governmental organisations”.

Also in response to the WPA and a departure from the accepted thinking of the time, the Commission at the outset involved all parties concerned, including organisations of disabled persons, and it strove to actively include disabled persons themselves at all levels and in all decision-making processes.

Since then, all national policies have had the aim of giving disabled people a central role in matters which concern them.  This is being done by consulting them and their organisations directly.

The culmination of this new way of thinking has been:

·        a radical change in the way we define disability and

·        in 2000 the passage into law of the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act.

Today we no longer see disability as essentially a health problem, but as a civil rights issue, based on what is known as the social model of disability.  In fact, today we do not speak so much of ‘cures’ and ‘rehabilitation’, but ‘inclusion’, ‘equal opportunities’, ‘choices’, ‘empowerment’ and ‘accessibility’.

With regard to equal opportunities, it is a great satisfaction to note that the first Bill of the new millenium passed into law by the Maltese Parliament was precisely the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act.

Has the EOA brought about any tangible difference to the lives of Maltese disabled persons?  I believe it has.  Today we see a greater readiness among persons with disability and parents of disabled persons unable to represent themselves to speak out and be heard.  We see young, disabled people assertively demanding their place in the mainstream of society.  We see parents of disabled youngsters declaring the right of their children to a quality education, in an inclusive environment.  Young disabled adults are seeking full-time employment, independent living arrangements and the right to make their own lifestyle choices.

On the level of Maltese society there is a growing awareness of need for creating accessible environments, services and means of communication which include, rather than exclude.  We witness an increasing tolerance of difference, a growing awareness of the abilities and potential of disabled people and the difficult circumstances of parents of disabled people.  Most importantly, Maltese society is beginning to accept that disabling barriers are largely caused by man-made obstacles, such as physical inaccessibility and negative attitudes, rather than purely biological shortcomings.  If our attitudes are changing, then so too is our language, gradually becoming more sensitive to the dignity, feelings and aspirations of disabled persons themselves.

The growing self-awareness of disabled persons unable to represent themselves and of their parents, has brought with it a readiness to face the challenge of becoming part of the larger world.  As of May 2003, disabled Maltese have become part of the population of approximately 80 million disabled people in the European continent.

Small as it is, we believe Malta has a positive role to play in the struggle for equal rights on a European level.  I know that disabled Maltese persons share the same concerns and aspirations as other disabled persons in Europe.

They can, and are already, making use of the increased opportunities for obtaining work experience in other countries, furthering their studies, and being involved in cultural meetings, seminars and other projects with other disabled persons. Since funding is also available for essential services such as personal assistance, accessible accommodation and transport, participation in EU programmes is possible for disabled persons.  This means that increasingly the limitations of an island people, namely insularity and isolation, are being eroded.

There have been many EU initiatives that seek to protect and promote the rights of disabled persons, especially in the area of employment.  Maltese disabled persons and their organisations now have to work alongside their European counterparts to ensure that the concerns of disabled persons continue to be high on the agenda of the various EU institutions.

The road leading to where we are today has not been an easy one.  If we have, indeed, come a long way, then it is thanks to the endeavours of many different individuals, from all walks of life.  On varying levels and in different ways, these individuals have all contributed to the improvement in the quality of life of disabled persons in Malta and Gozo.  Now it is up to disabled people themselves to take the baton and lead the way.

The recent Athens Paralympics have been providing us with inspiring images of disabled persons striving for excellence, challenging personal limits and setting new standards.  As it is with sport, so it is with everyday life: we all have to keep setting ourselves new goals and pushing back the barriers that confine us.

If the last fifty years of toil have taught us anything, they have taught us how important it is for disabled people to assume responsibility for their own affairs and to take control of their lives and organisations.

Today, we are giving more and more importance to the idea of inclusion, we believe more and more in the positive role of a strong, civil society.  But equally, we must remember that such concepts bring with them the burden of responsibility and commitment, as well as the exhilaration of enjoying rights and freedom.

Disabled Maltese have proved their ability to assume responsibility and make their own choices; now they must show that they are capable of making the commitment to take control of the issues which concern them.  If they do not do so, there is a great danger that control will be usurped by  non-disabled people, who will claim to speak on their own behalf and make decisions for them at every level.

Care should be taken not to lose the great benefits acquired during the last fifty years.  The struggle towards independence can be difficult and demanding.  It is equally difficult and demaning to maintain independence once it has been won.  We all have a role to play and our own sacrifices to make.

Disabled persons have to struggle with the difficulties of everyday-life.  But notwithstanding this struggle, it is important that they find the time, energy and commitment to involve themselves in civil society and take control of their own affairs.

All this applies equally to disabled people as well as to parents of disabled people unable to represent themselves.  These parents, as well as non-disabled allies, must learn to work on a basis of equality and respect with disabled persons.  All should learn the difficult task of lending support and encouragement, without overwhelming and controlling the very disabled persons they are seeking to help.  Together, as a society we must ensure that the authentic voices of disabled people are heard locally and internationally.

Finally, we must never forget that: together we can make a difference.