Disability commission receiving fewer complaints

The main obstacles encountered by people with a disability are brought about by society and not by the disability itself, according to Marianne Debono, the manager of the equal opportunities law section of the National Commission for People with a Disability.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of a report outlining the fourth year since the introduction of the Equal Opportunities Law, she said that since obstacles were brought about by society they could be removed by society itself.

The report shows that between October 2003 and last September the commission worked on 111 cases, 59 of which were new, while the others were pending from the past three years.

Half of the cases revolved around accessibility. There were also a number of complaints to do with education, services, work, houses and insurance.

The number of complaints has gone down in the four years since the law came into force. In the first year - 2000 to 2001 - 92 complaints were made, compared to 59 over the past year and 64 the year before.

The majority of new cases between 2003 and 2004 - 36 - were against government entities. Nine complaints were against the private sector, seven against local councils, four against government-owned companies and three against the Church.

In the past year the commission closed 58 cases, while a temporary agreement was reached over nine others. Four cases are being addressed in court while another 40 are still being discussed.

The report said two cases were decided by the industrial tribunal during the past year and the decisions were both against the employee. On the other hand, a case which the commission had against the Home Affairs Minister was concluded in favour of the commission by the arbitration centre.

Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said an appraisal of the law will take place next year and this should lead to more discussions about the law.

The minister expressed her concern that just four per cent of children with a disability were in mainstream education. Likewise, she expressed her disappointment at the small number of people with a disability who were registering for work.

Ms Cristina stressed the importance of consultation between the commission and various entities. She said it was much better to do things right from the beginning than having to make changes afterwards.

Labour MP Marie Louise Coleiro mentioned the problem of lack of facilitators, which she said was demeaning inclusive education. She suggested the setting up of a tribunal specifically for issues related to the equal opportunities law, which would be more efficient and more cost-effective.