The Prime Minister's wife, Dr Lydia Abela, said that disability inclusion must remain central to education, healthcare and public services, as she highlighted proposals aimed at strengthening early intervention, autism-friendly spaces and personalised support for families.
During a discussion on disability, inclusion and quality of life in Malta on Sunday morning, Abela said that inclusion must remain central to every policy and decision affecting persons with disability and their families.
She said disability policy should be treated as a cross-cutting priority shaping education, health and public services rather than a standalone issue.
Abela said that disability is not a single-sector issue but one that shapes opportunities, rights and overall quality of life, arguing that politics must remain close to people at every stage of their lives.
"When we help a person with disability we are not helping only them, we are helping an entire family," she said.
Abela referred to measures in the 'Int Malta' manifesto, including early screening in schools for dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia for children aged between five and seven, to ensure early support.
She also spoke of the importance of Individual Support Plans, designed with families and professionals to provide personalised lifelong support for persons with disability.
Inclusion, she added, should be visible in everyday life, with autism-friendly hours in government departments, calm rooms in public spaces and improved emergency services for autistic persons at Mater Dei Hospital.
CEO of Aġenzija Sapport Oliver Scicluna noted progress since 2013 in services and legislation, stressing the importance of independence for persons with disability and policy grounded in lived experience.
Dr Olivia Galea Seychell shared her experience as a mother of a child with autism, highlighting communication, autonomy and mental health support for families, and the need to recognise different forms of expression.
Other contributors, including Doreen Falzon, Maria Formosa, Wendy McKay and Marika Tonna, spoke about personal experiences, highlighting challenges, resilience and the importance of accessible support services.
Maria Formosa spoke of the work of Dar Bjorn and the impact of community support, while Wendy McKay said funding for therapies is a direct investment in the potential of neurodivergent children.
Marika Tonna shared her family's experience following her son Kurt's serious accident, stressing the importance of timely help and services that enable families to live with dignity despite adversity.