Parents of persons with disability do their utmost for all their children, including those with an impairment, to succeed in life.
Sometimes this means that parents have to "fight" for the rights of their children with an impairment and for the things taken for granted by all. Such few examples are for their life-long learning, their qualitative education, their access to open employment, their independence, their leisure and more.
COVID-19 has disrupted the lives of persons with disability. "We have a human, economic and social crisis which, if not properly addressed through policy, the social crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic may also increase inequality, exclusion, discrimination and global unemployment in the medium- and long-term" (UN Dept of Economic & Social Affairs Social Inclusion).
Two Canadian sisters of persons with an intellectual impairment, Jihann Abbas and Helen Ries, stated that "the mismatched socks you wore on World Down Syndrome Day did not facilitate the policies and supports our brothers' need to live good and valued lives. Simply put, our brothers and many others cannot afford to go back to 'normal'. Our new 'normal' must include our brothers and others in tangible ways".
MFOPD totally agrees with this statement. The Maltese government should invest and put in place the measures and tools with which persons with disability can live a dignified independent life. The involvement of persons with disability and their organisations is very important when such measures are being discussed as this is the only way we can assure that the best is being done with no one being left behind.
No, we cannot go back to normal without making sure that:
- what was not working is dealt with and changed and or stopped,
- we get the value for the money being spent,
- we are getting good quality services for all and at all times,
- all services are being benefitted by all who need it,
- Personal assistance is put in place and accessible to all persons with an impairment who need it without any further delays,
- the students with disability receive a good quality education which caters for their "full development of the whole personality including the ability to work",
- the United Nation Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRP) is implemented at all times for the full benefit of all persons with disability in the Maltese islands.
During the meeting of the Disability Intergroup, Impact of COVID-19 outbreak for persons with disabilities, recently held and organised by the European Disability Forum with whom MFOPD is affiliated, the European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli stressed that the states, Malta included, have to respect the UNCRPD which they have ratified.
Marthese Mugliette
President