Malta: Career Guidance for Persons with Disabilities

In a new publication from Malta, the focus is cast on people with disabilities and how they often feel alienated from deciding their own lives. In a conference launching the publication, they called for guidance on an even footing with non disabled people.

On the 12th March 2008, the European Union Programmes Agency in Malta organized a conference to launch its latest publication entitled ‘Career Guidance for Persons with Disability’. This is built on a research which was carried out by Dr Andrew Azzopardi from the University of Malta and published by Euroguidance Malta under the framework of EU´s lifelong learning programme.

The study is mainly aimed at targeting guidance practitioners on issues related to persons with a disabilities seeking assistance to enter the labour market. A clear picture of the present situation that persons with disabilities in Malta face on employment related issues is also drawn up.

Others are often making the decisions

The Conference was chaired by Mr Ronald Balzan, a disabled activist who claimed that such studies are crucial for persons with disabilities and those working with them. He further emphasised that general issues on career guidance and employment apply also for person with disabilities. He added that although it is fundamental for them to feel that they can contribute to society and become independent, they are still barred by society’s prejudices and over-protection.

Mr Balzan highlighted that very often disabled people find themselves in situations where non-disabled people, explicitly or implicitly, make decisions on their behalf, perhaps out of over-protection or sheer paternalism. Needless to say, this happens in respect to their choice of employment. This is why such a publication was needed.

Mr Balzan added that such studies need to take into consideration and clearly address the requirements of this minority group, as was done through this publication. According to him career guidance needs to take into consideration personal circumstances which are truly congruent to the person’s interests and potentials, rather than leading them to a career which ‘fits the mould’ of low expectations.

Making full use of their potential

Mr Pace Parascandalo, National Coordinator of the European Union Programmes Agency stated that such publications could be a catalyst for the promotion of good practice in this field as well as in other related areas.

Such a positive application would help disabled persons to make good use of their full potentials by developing their skills and interests, enabling them to engage to a greater extent in the society. Mr Parascandalo further added that career guidance is a significant stepping-stone leading towards finding employment opportunities, positive relationships, independence and autonomy.

Mr George Borg, Director of Student Services within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport addressed issues on diversity amongst students as well as integration of persons with disabilities in the school context and the place of work.

Equal opportunities crucial for everybody

Mr Joseph M. Camilleri, Chairperson of the National Commission for Persons with Disability in Malta maintained that both as a national as well as a European priority, the issue of equal opportunities is crucial for school-leavers and are trying to enter the labour market. He argued that it is the general attitude of society towards this marginalised group that needs to be changed.

Dr Valerie Sollars, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Malta said that she is quite happy that inclusive policies have been implemented in education in Malta. These policies include e.g. the issue of enrolling disabled children in mainstream schools, as well as in employment.

Dr Sollars emphasised that this study highlights how important it is that persons who are responsible for career guidance be fully aware of the opportunities which are being offered to persons with disabilities so that they can fully benefit from such services and be in a better position to succeed.

Inclusion calls for valuing the diversity

The author himself, Dr Andrew Azzopardi, said that ‘the crucial question that all students and their parents keep asking to themselves and to others is ‘what will I do in the future?’.

He strongly argued that ‘inclusion calls for the valuing of diversity, not simply the acknowledgement of diversity and difference’. He added that ‘however, ensuring job security for persons with disability depends not only on inclusion within the school community and the class, but also on the ability of the individual to choose a future based on what skills and qualities the he or she has and moreover to what use they can be developed’.

Dr Azzopardi also provided a number of concrete examples to enhance his theory on inclusion, from newborns to a child who at first has been deprived of playing the piano due to his impairment.

Professor Roger Slee, from the University of London who has long been involved in issues relating to disability presented examples from Australia and how the issue of disability is dealt with, since ‘career guidance is a major contributor in all the weaving of this tapestry’.

Fabian Galea, Euroguidance Malta