Rita Vella sits at her home computer and types away using a long wooden stick that she holds in her mouth since, having muscular dystrophy, she can only move her head and shoulders.

It’s as though there is the assumption that disabled people don’t have homes

The word ‘accessibility’ soon appears on the screen as she steers the stick along the keyboard with incredible precision.

Across the living room her husband, Kevin, is updating a list of wheelchair-accessible places they have been to. He has the same condition as his wife and types using small movements of his right hand.

Close to his computer station there is a display of Valentine’s Day cards, small gifts and flowers that they gave each other a few weeks earlier.

“We celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary in May,” says Ms Vella, 40, as she thinks back to those days when, as a young girl, she thought she would never be able to get married because of her condition – a degenerative muscle disease.

But with determination and support she managed to live her childhood dream and marry the man she loves.

Ms Vella was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when she was 11 – the year she stopped walking. Symptoms started when she was about seven as she started to experience falls.

When she stopped walking, she did not like going out of the house since she did not want people looking at her in her wheelchair.

She spent a lot of time indoors, writing letters to her many pen-friends. But when she was 16, she lost the use of her hands.

A few years earlier she had joined the Muscular Dystrophy Group where she found a lot of support and learnt more about her condition.

“I remember at first it was hard to hear that a group member had died. You’d think it will happen to you next.

“But then you learn there are different forms of the condition… I also found a lot of support and, whatever I managed to achieve today, I did so thanks to some members of the group,” she says.

Last December Mr and Ms Vella were awarded the National Order of Merit by the President for promoting the rights of people with a disability.

Ms Vella is the vice-chairwoman of the National Commission People with Disability and the chairwoman of the MDG and Agenzija Sapport’s selection allocation committee that determines who is eligible for services.

When she was 22 she saw someone draw with his mouth on television and decided to have a go.

The paintings hanging on her walls at home are testimony to the fact that she never gave up after that. In fact, she is now a member of the international Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists – represented in Malta by IZDA Art Publishers.

Her husband, who is 35, learnt he had muscular dystrophy when he was about 13. He had gone to the UK for an unrelated operation and tests revealed he had the condition.

He too joined the MDG, which became the springboard for their relationship, and of which he is now secretary.

The two bonded when they went abroad on a trip organised by the MDG.

Once back in Malta they remained in contact and their friendship blossomed into romance.

But, for the first seven years they kept it secret – although people commented they were always together.

Ms Vella explains that they felt people would not understand that disabled people may want more than just friendship. They too were not sure if they could take their relationship forward as living alone was unthinkable.

With the help of the Housing Authority, Agenzija Sapport and the KNPD they managed to get a home which they could tailor for their needs as well as a carer.

With all this in place they went ahead and tied the knot.

“It’s everyone’s dream to get married,” she smiles as the family’s pet parrot, Wetta, lets out a loud shriek.

The couple live on their disability pension. Up till a few months ago they both had a part-time job sending out bills for a private company. But after 19 years, the company automated this service last September.

“Now we are registering for work and would like to find a job.”

Muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of hereditary muscle diseases that weaken the muscles that move the human body.

Muscular dystrophies are characterised by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.

All of the muscles may be affected. Or, only specific groups of muscles may be affected, such as those around the pelvis, shoulder, or face.

Muscular dystrophy can affect adults, but the more severe forms tend to occur in early childhood.

Muscular Dystrophy Group Malta was formed in 1980 by a group of parents of children with various forms of muscular dystrophy, with the primary aim of getting together to share experiences. It now provides support for some 50 people in Malta and Gozo.

Anyone interested in joining or supporting the group can visit www.mdgmalta.com, find it on Facebook or send an e-mail to mdgmalta@gmail.com.

The Sunday Times is telling the stories of people with various disabilities who are overcoming societal barriers. These monthly articles are not aimed at depicting these people as ‘superheroes’ but at helping society out there understand the needs and concerns of the 34,600 disabled people in Malta who are often hindered by lack of accessibility and understanding. Anyone who has a story to share can contact ccalleja@timesofmalta.com.