The Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Active Ageing Dr Justyne Caruana Dr Justyne Caruana attended a conference today organised by the Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA),

During the ceremony they presented certificates to 5 students for the successful completion of computer courses for people with disability

Today a person with special needs can easily have the same access to technology as anyone else. This course (for the year 2013-2014) was held in collaboration with The Gozo Federation for Persons with Disabilities(FGHPD). This was funded by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry for Gozo.

FGHPD is a non-governmental organisation brings together organisations and entities which work for the disabled in Gozo. It was founded in December 2003 with a view to working together for the benefit of persons with disability and their families in Gozo, particularly on common issues affecting persons with disabilities.

Among the main projects FGHPD completed was the establishment in March 2008 of the office of the Coordinator of Disability for Gozo, which is at the Santa Marta Day Centre in Victoria. This was done after an agreement was reached between the FGHPD and the Ministry for Gozo.

This office serves as a one-stop-shop for Gozo disabled and their families to offer any assistance needed. It also performs a number of initiatives to aid improvements, including educational programmes and meetings to increase the knowledge and awareness of the needs and improvement in services that are required. Sessions are held each year for Year 6 children in primary schools to raise awareness of disability..

Dr Refalo congratulated the five students who received their certificates. He promised that the Ministry would continue to give its support and all necessary assistance to the Federation.

Dr Justyne Caruana also gave her congratulations to the successful students. She said that events like these are important because they help to improve quality of life.

She said that information technology is a tool that changed the world, by the way one communicates and by way of entertainment. Dr Caruana reiterated that the Secretariat is continually working to promote the abilities of the Disabled and that was why the Government has established a dedicated Parliamentary Secretary for the Disability sector.

She mentioned that in a few weeks time the Secretariat will publish the National Policy on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities. In this document, the Government will give a huge boost to ability and empowerment. She said that it is currently undergoing an extensive legislative exercise and is expected to be completed in October, and it will continue strengthening activism among people with disabilities.

The Parliamentary Secretary also announced a series of initiatives in collaboration with MITA and the MCA to provide training for the disabled. Also that the Secretariat will be holding an Informative Gozo Weekend to raise awareness of dementia, as well as the services offered for the Disabled.

She mentioned that soon they will be opening an NCPD Helpdesk in Gozo, as well in the near future the services of the A?enzija Sapport will start in Gozo, so that Gozitans will have all the services in Gozo itself. Dr Caruana mention that Gozo will also have its first residence for handicapped persons.

FITA thanked Dr Caruana and The Gozo Federation for Persons with Disabilities and announced that together with the Federation they will be carrying out a very important project.

Also present for the conference was M’Rose Attard Gozo Disability Coordinator and Elizabeth Olivieri Chairman of FITA.

Photograph: Joe Grech

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