https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121035 2026-04-14T23:40:08Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141618 Title: The disabled child, their voice and their ability to be active agents in their own life Abstract: N/A Description: Ph.D.(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121555 Title: Empowering sounds or trivial rhythmic variations? : narrative portraiture of the use of music for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the Maltese context Abstract: Music is an essential part of the human experience. The aim of this study is to understand the effects that music has on the life of people with intellectual and developmental disability in Malta. This has been achieved by involving three individuals with intellectual and developmental disability who have been exposed to music through their attendance at Villabianca, a centre for Music and the Arts. Given that these three participants prefer communicating in non-traditional ways, the involvement of their music therapist, or music practitioners and their primary care givers was considered essential. Priority however, has been given to the voices of the three main participants with intellectual and developmental disability through the use of attentive listening that goes beyond the use of words. For this reason, Narrative Portraiture, an innovative and creative qualitative methodology that focuses on the creation of descriptive narrations, was selected. This methodology allows for the use of various methods to gather the data. Multiple observations were carried out with the main participants and semi-structured interviews were used with the non-disabled participants involved in this study. The framework was adopted during interviews with main participants, ensuring that alternative means of communication is provided for self-expression. This study confirms that music helps people who choose to engage in non-traditional communication, to express themselves without the use of words. Furthermore through their active musical involvement participants with disability accomplished a sense of human flourishing and equity. Music seemed to also positively impact people without disability who were in close proximity with the main participants. This was achieved by creating pathways of positive understanding, driving the development of more meaningful relationships that improved the wellbeing of everyone involved. The need to provide people with intellectual and developmental disability with appropriate spaces and sensitive people was found crucial. Such spaces would help these valued citizens live a more decent and respectful life, free from prejudice and discrimination. Description: M.A. (Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121552 Title: Protection or overprotection? : the lived experience of persons with intellectual disabilities and their primary caregivers in Malta Abstract: The aim of this research is to find out how protective and overprotective attitudes from the primary caregivers impact the lives of persons with intellectual disabilities. Sanders (2006) argued that, very often, disabled persons are likely to end up being overprotected throughout all the stages of their life. Callus et al. (2019) also found that overprotection is a disabling barrier for persons with intellectual disabilities. Since the idea of this research emerged from the study conducted by Callus et al. (2019), I wanted to look within the experience of persons with intellectual disabilities on how this barrier, overprotection, if it is present within their lives, impacts them. I wanted to get to know if persons with intellectual disabilities are aware that they are experiencing overprotection when it is present in their life. I also wanted to explore if there are any different impacts on persons with intellectual disabilities when their primary caregivers resort to protective or overprotective attitudes. In addition, I wanted to explore the factors that lead to primary caregivers resorting to protective or overprotective attitudes with persons with intellectual disabilities. Since I wanted to explore the lived experience of persons with intellectual disabilities and their primary caregivers in relation to protection and overprotection, I opted to use IPA as a research methodology. IPA is a phenomenological approach interested in analysing the lived experience of individuals, and in making sense of the lived experience of these individuals (Smith et al., 2022). Data was gathered via semi-structured interviews, hence, I had the opportunity to collect data in person from the participants. This research represents the lived experience of the participants, who consisted of four persons with intellectual disability and their primary caregivers. It is interesting to note that primary caregivers that had a good support system were able to provide support to persons with intellectual disabilities. On the other end, primary caregivers who had lack of support resorted to overprotection to take care of persons with intellectual disabilities. Persons with intellectual disabilities whose primary caregivers were supportive had more possibilities to lead an independent life and have an active social life, whilst persons with intellectual disabilities whose primary caregivers were overprotective had limited opportunities to lead an independent life and have an active social life. Based on the findings of this research, it was concluded that for persons with intellectual disabilities to overcome overprotection, we need to have support services in place for their primary caregivers. Support services that only support persons with intellectual disabilities and ignore their primary caregivers are not sufficient. Description: M.A. (Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121549 Title: "Coming out" of the disability closet : the narratives of primary school educators with invisible disabilities Abstract: This narrative study aimed to explore whether educators with invisible disabilities disclose their impairment at their workplace and if/how the disclosure impacts their employment experiences in primary schools. Furthermore, I explored the attitudes amongst colleagues and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) towards educators with an invisible disability. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with five primary school educators who had invisible disabilities. The educators shared their personal stories and experiences, which were then analyzed using Thematic Analysis (TA) within the framework of the Social Model of Disability. The analysis revealed five key themes that were further explored: motivation to work in education, disclosure practices, physical and organizational barriers, attitudes towards disability, and disability viewed as a strength rather than a weakness. Adopting an emancipatory approach, this study recognizes educators as vital when contributing to discussions on inclusive education, and who can influence the discourse surrounding disability in school systems. The participants provided valuable insights and recommendations for fostering change within inclusive education. Furthermore, the study's findings were utilized to develop a booklet to raise awareness that will be distributed to schools, NGOs relating to various invisible disabilities, and Facebook groups that involve educators. Description: M.A. (Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z