antiquity
12-07-2002, 07:42 AM
Web posted on December 7, 2002 at 9:00:00 AM CET
Disabled people form an integral part of society
Staff Reporter
In 10 years&rsquo time government would like to see 10 per cent of the work-force constituted by disabled people according to Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
Speaking at a national conference entitled, &ldquoFlimkieNaslu&rdquo (Together we can make it) on Thursday, Dr Gonzi said it was important to ask what the target is. &ldquoWhere are we trying to go?&rdquo he asked.
The conference, held in Qawra, was organised in order to depict the current situation of the disabled and assess targets.
Dr Gonzi said his vision on disabled people was that in 10 years time&rsquo he wanted to see 10 per cent of the work-force composed of disabled people and not only two per cent which, he said, had not worked.
&ldquoThanks to the Equal Opportunities Law we can remove all forms of discrimination and we can instil in the minds of employers that disabled people have abilities and can contribute.&rdquo
Speaking about education, Dr Gonzi said inclusive education should be spread more in secondary, post-secondary and technical schools, so that false obstacles could be removed.
He said he hoped teachers, their unions and facilitators would understand that investment in inclusive education is in itself an educational exercise for the whole class. &ldquoIf we win this victory at primary and secondary level then we will have effectively created a new society,&rdquo he said. He said he would also like to see the meaning of the word &ldquodisabled&rdquo extend to include people suffering form schizophrenia and depression, and spoke about the need to change physical accessibility to buildings, such as in the building of new homes.
Dr Gonzi also spoke about the need for all buses to be accessible to wheelchair users and the need to work on sheltered housing after parents or carers of disabled people went missing.
Dr Gonzi also said he hoped Non-governmental organisations would avoid redoubling work and would work together for a common aim.
Malta Labour Party spokesman Marie Louise Coleiro also addressed the conference and said disabled people form an integral part of society. She said the time had come for an evaluation of the situation of the disabled in Malta and there was a need for more research on the needs of disabled people.
Ms Coleiro pointed out that pavements in residential areas made walking difficult for disabled people because of certain obstacles like garage ramps. Speaking about the issue of accessibility to buildings, Ms Coleiro said this was crucial. She also mentioned the need for rapid replacement of facilitators if these fell ill, difficulties faced by 16 year-old intellectually impaired youths, who cannot make it to the next stage of their education and are sent to special schools, and the need for more respite services.
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/newsview.asp?id=14320
Disabled people form an integral part of society
Staff Reporter
In 10 years&rsquo time government would like to see 10 per cent of the work-force constituted by disabled people according to Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
Speaking at a national conference entitled, &ldquoFlimkieNaslu&rdquo (Together we can make it) on Thursday, Dr Gonzi said it was important to ask what the target is. &ldquoWhere are we trying to go?&rdquo he asked.
The conference, held in Qawra, was organised in order to depict the current situation of the disabled and assess targets.
Dr Gonzi said his vision on disabled people was that in 10 years time&rsquo he wanted to see 10 per cent of the work-force composed of disabled people and not only two per cent which, he said, had not worked.
&ldquoThanks to the Equal Opportunities Law we can remove all forms of discrimination and we can instil in the minds of employers that disabled people have abilities and can contribute.&rdquo
Speaking about education, Dr Gonzi said inclusive education should be spread more in secondary, post-secondary and technical schools, so that false obstacles could be removed.
He said he hoped teachers, their unions and facilitators would understand that investment in inclusive education is in itself an educational exercise for the whole class. &ldquoIf we win this victory at primary and secondary level then we will have effectively created a new society,&rdquo he said. He said he would also like to see the meaning of the word &ldquodisabled&rdquo extend to include people suffering form schizophrenia and depression, and spoke about the need to change physical accessibility to buildings, such as in the building of new homes.
Dr Gonzi also spoke about the need for all buses to be accessible to wheelchair users and the need to work on sheltered housing after parents or carers of disabled people went missing.
Dr Gonzi also said he hoped Non-governmental organisations would avoid redoubling work and would work together for a common aim.
Malta Labour Party spokesman Marie Louise Coleiro also addressed the conference and said disabled people form an integral part of society. She said the time had come for an evaluation of the situation of the disabled in Malta and there was a need for more research on the needs of disabled people.
Ms Coleiro pointed out that pavements in residential areas made walking difficult for disabled people because of certain obstacles like garage ramps. Speaking about the issue of accessibility to buildings, Ms Coleiro said this was crucial. She also mentioned the need for rapid replacement of facilitators if these fell ill, difficulties faced by 16 year-old intellectually impaired youths, who cannot make it to the next stage of their education and are sent to special schools, and the need for more respite services.
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/newsview.asp?id=14320