The Gozo Federation of Persons with Disabilities said that it has noted the recent decision of the Ombudsman and specifically of the Commissioner for Education, the Chief Justice Emeritus Dr Vincent De Gaetano, regarding a case from Gozo of a student, where it appears that he was discriminated against due to disability by the school he attended.

In a statement, the Federation insisted that “Persons with Disabilities deserve better and this is simply because it is their right to receive services like anyone else, in this case – educational services.”

It added that, “while appreciating that following this decision, the Department of Education accepted to change its practices, so that such discrimination would not occur again, the Federation expresses its disappointment that things had to come this far, to begin to change for the better.”

The Federation said that it is aware that over time, progress has been made in the field of persons with disabilities in Gozo.

“However, it cannot be ignored that this case is only the latest of several on the island of Gozo, where despite people with disabilities fighting for their rights, they continue to be ignored and not given the rights they deserve. This is even despite the authorities having proven them right,” said the Federation.

It highlighted that “all this in a context where there are still cases of people with disabilities and their families who are afraid to speak out, where discrimination continues to occur without action being taken, particularly when it comes to children with disabilities, to the detriment of the same children, for whom we are supposed to wish an ever brighter and better future.”

The Federation went on to say that it hopes that this latest case “will serve to make the authorities in Gozo change their attitude towards people with disabilities, to really pay attention to them and do what is necessary, so that these people see the quality of their lives and the lives of those around them improve, as is their right.”

The Gozo Federation of Persons with Disabilities is the organisation that brings together the six non-governmental organisations working in the field of persons with disabilities in Gozo, namely Ability for Disability Association, Arka Foundation, Gozo Aid for the Visually Impaired, Gozo Association of the Deaf, Inspire and Voice For Inclusion Gozo.

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