‘Government forgot the vulnerable’, say parents of disabled persons

PACDS - a voluntary committee made up of parents of persons with disabilities who attend Adult Day Centres and others who reside in Community homes managed by the Government's Agenzija Sapport - has protested for the withdrawal of funds which were committed to the rights of persons with disability to live in the community.

The funds were meant to help buy adequate homes for persons with special needs and to help pay for staff workers looking after the vulnerable persons.

The funding was committed to the right of persons with disabilities to live in the community with all the support society should give through its elected Government, PACDS said.

"The number of residences for persons with disabilities has for a long time been inadequate," President Livy Tabone said, adding that the waiting list for entry into community homes and adult day care centres is on the increase.

Tabone said that while the state supported about 60 persons with disabilities in community homes managed by the Agenzija Sapport, "the number of persons with disabilities under the care of their ageing parents and curators also experiencing difficulties related to ill health is a major concern".

"But now, part of the much awaited budget funding for the acquisition of suitable homes and staff has been withdrawn by the Government forgetting its priority in supporting this most vulnerable sector of society. The state has lost its sensitivity at a time when Parliament is about to ratify the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities," Tabone said.

"These rights entitle persons with disabilities to choose to live in a home in their community and not be forced to live the rest of their lives in an institution."

Tabone added that it was "shameful" and "very insensitive" to allocate funding for "well meaning costly projects at the expense of the future better living of persons with disabilities".

"Politicians of good will should focus on the priorities of citizens with disabilities and listen, not just hear, to their silent angry voice who together with their parents see a bleak future in a world where financial priorities over-ride real human values of dignity and solidarity," Tabone said.