Ability not disability – this is our focus and I am proud to say that the Parliamentary Secretariat for Rights of People with Disability and Active Ageing has supported various important initiatives recently.

The Paracamp organised in Mgarr, Gozo, was one of them. This was the first paracamp organised in the Maltese Islands and a delegation from my Secretariat also participated. Such initiatives give more opportunities to those with disability and encourage independent living, as those participating have the opportunity to learn basic life skills and socialise more.

Another initiative we are supporting is the first Malta International Organ Festival which has been organised in aid of Fondazzjoni Nazareth. The launch was held during a conference at the Golden Tulip Vivaldi Hotel, which also sponsored this event. The festival, which began on 28 August and runs until 12 September, features a series of events around Malta and Gozo and in order to encourage the event, apart from sponsoring we have also helped a group of people with disability to participate in these events, especially those organised in Gozo. Fondazzjoni Nazareth does a considerable amount of work to help those with a disability, and thus needs continuous financial aid as well as volunteers.

During a Foundation for Technology Accessibility (FITA) ceremony this week, I announced that a number of laws are to be amended to introduce and/or ensure that people with disability are properly represented in various entities and bodies in Malta and Gozo. During this ceremony, we awarded certificates of completion to all the people with disability who had completed these IT courses. I personally very much enjoyed this ceremony, because it promotes ability – something on which my Parliamentary Secretariat is continuously working. This is important and crucial to enhance both independent living and the inclusion of people with disability in all spheres and levels of society. I stressed that in a few weeks time, our Parliamentary Secretariat will be publishing its National Policy on the Rights of People with Disability, which will also give a boost to the rights and involvement of people with disability in society. I also mentioned the importance of accessibility in IT and ICT, since today it dominates the working environment and is therefore crucial to enable those with a disability to integrate within the employment sector and also to combat the existing digital divide.

One of the main electoral pledges of this government was to give peace of mind to the parents of people with disability. This is why the Secretariat earlier called for expressions of interest for a residence for those with disability in Gozo, and is also working on two other such residences, one in Siggiewi and the other in St Julian’s.

In addition, this week we also issued an expression of interest for the provision of residences and services around Malta and Gozo. Anyone interested can contact the Contracts and Procurement Section of the Ministry.

For Gozo residents, the Parliamentary Secretariat is also organising an informative seminar on disability. This will be held on 20 September at the premises of the Gozo Association for the Deaf Premises. Further information is available from our Secretariat on 2590 3175.

With regards to the elderly sector, the Parliamentary Secretariat has held other consultations about national minimum standards for residential services for the elderly. This consultation will end in mid-September. We have also launched a new service for complaints by means of a free-phone 8007 2367 or via email to [email protected]

This is just the beginning.