Today, Thursday 3 December, is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Malta Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has chosen the theme chosen by the United Nations for this year: Not all disabilities are visible with the aim of raising awareness about disabilities that are less visible. These include conditions such as ADHD, autism, fibromyalgia, and neurological problems among others.
The latest research shows that there are about 35,000 people with disabilities where 20,620 are registered with the Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Minister for Inclusion and Quality of Life Julia Farrugia Portelli met with Josef Farrugia, a disabled person who 36 years ago was on the same school bench with the Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, then a girl of 7 years.
The Minister said that since then she has come to understand the word disability as Josef had asked for her help during an exercise they were asked to do by their teachers.
Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli explained how satisfying it is for her and more and more for people with disabilities whose needs have risen to a ministerial level for the first time.
“This is a Government that will continue to push the concept of housing in the community for people with different challenges, and at the same time reassure parents that their children will have someone to watch them even when they grow old or become missing. ”
Josef Farrugia praised the work of the Government and said that they are very grateful that there is now a Ministry completely focused on the needs of people like him. He said he was thrilled that the first person with a disability the Minister wanted to meet was himself. She mentioned how 36 years ago, a teacher asked students to put their hands on the pencil and turn it around with a pencil. “Due to the disability I could not do what the teacher asked so I had to turn to my girl friend to help me. Who was to tell me that after all this time this girl had to be the Minister for Inclusion, ”said Farrugia. He concluded by saying that she always stayed close to him even though life took them in different directions.
