https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26118 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:30:07 GMT 2026-04-30T22:30:07Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26405 Title: How a family with two disabled children experiences societal perceptions Abstract: This study presents a thick description of the life of a Maltese family with two children with disability living in Malta. This research addressed the question of how a family with two disabled children experiences societal perceptions in Malta. In this study, the family consisted of parents whose ages are around the mid-forties, and their two children, Sonia who is seven years old and has a physical disability, and Sam who is five years old and has an intellectual disability. Current trends in disability studies promote emancipatory research approaches, which include allowing the participating family’s voice to be heard. It is in fact this voice that leads the study forward, as the family participants are the experts on their own life. Therefore, the emancipatory disability approach, which is based on the social model, and ethnography, whose philosophy fits in well with the social model, is the conceptual framework used for this study. A variety of data sources was used which enabled me to look into the experiences of the parents with children with disability. These data sources were observation sessions and interviews. The family’s experience of societal perceptions was explored following a case-study design and using open-ended ethnographic interview methods. When analysed, the data generated resulted in a number of themes: the two themes most frequently mentioned were physical accessibility and lack of co-ordination between government and non-government organisations. This lack of organisation results in a fragmented system which is difficult to navigate. Both themes, which manifest barriers, call for a rethinking in the local cultural mind-set. The themes explored are brought together to answer the research question in the conclusion of this study. The conclusion highlights the situation of the family, as well as other similar families, when faced with the challenges and/or barriers created by the Maltese society. Description: M.A.DISABILITY STUD. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26405 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26396 Title: An evaluation of community services being offered to persons with disability in Malta Abstract: This research evaluated the current community services being provided to persons with disability through the CommCare Assessment Unit (CAU), which forms part of the Active Ageing and Community Care directorate (AACCD). This study aimed to provide a clearer picture of the levels of satisfaction the service users have with the current services. The services being evaluated were mainly provided directly through CommCare, however it was known that services offered through CommCare assessment, might have been mentioned by service users. It also aspired to divulge if the services are catering for the service users' needs and if standards are being maintained throughout. Most importantly, the findings of this research will be used to propose changes towards improvement of community services in Malta. The methodology employed for this study was a mixed method approach, based on philosophical assumptions of a pragmatic viewpoint, using an overarching transformative mixed method perspective and a convergent parallel mixed method design. Questionnaires were disseminated to gather the quantitative data. The participants for this included service users that made use of CommCare services and were reported as having a disability. The qualitative findings were obtained by using a semi-structured interview with two service providers and two service users in order to acquire data from different perspectives. The service users for this were chosen from two different professions, and that had the most experience working within CommCare. The service users for the interviews were chosen from the same sample used for the questionnaires, only they had to make use of more than one service. The major theoretical frameworks used for this study were the social model of disability, the client-centred model, and the transformative paradigm. The quantitative findings showed that service users were generally satisfied with the overall care, and standards of care. The issues that emerged from these findings were regarding frequency of service provided, and the time at which they were provided. The services that had issues with timing of services were those not directly offered through CommCare, namely nursing and carer services by the sub-contractor. The services of physiotherapy and occupational therapy were those that service users claimed should provide more frequent visits. The qualitative findings also exposed issues with timing of services and frequency. Timing was an issue with nursing and carer services of the sub-contractor, and frequency was found to be an issue with home help services, all of which are not directly provided by CommCare. There also was an issue with quality of service concerning the meals-on-wheels service. Other matters that arose from these findings included issues with human resources, communication, and time dedicated to service users, service misconceptions, interdisciplinary communication, and continuation of care. The findings of this study showed that there is a need for improvement in services, both at policy level and in deliverance of services. Specific needs of the persons with disability are not being met. In order to maintain professional and high service standards, re-evaluation of service must be implemented. The changes and improvements that have been suggested do not only include services, but also structural changes to external barriers which are limiting people with disability from enjoying their community. This instigates a change within a community perspective, that not only involves services and polices, but also structural and social. Description: M.A.DISABILITY STUD. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26396 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26393 Title: Beyond diagnosis of hearing impairment : parent support and information in Malta Abstract: The aim of this study is to explore how parents in Malta and Gozo can be supported when their children are diagnosed with a hearing impairment. The social model of disability provides insight into the disabling tendencies of society (Oliver M. , 2004) . Dowling and Dowlan (2001) demonstrate how social organisation disables the child who has an impairment as well as the whole family as a result of social barriers, prejudices, and the way services are provided. Through an action research approach within the social model of disability, this study engaged parents of children with a hearing impairment in focus groups and interviews. Parents gave their recommendations for improved support and information from their own experiences and point of view. They reported that many services do exist but it is difficult to access them without proper information and support. This resulted in their recommendations for a directory leaflet which could facilitate this process. The participants were also involved in the evaluation of the drafted leaflet. Furthermore, they recognised the need for parents to meet other parents. This led to the setting up of an online parent-to-parent group where parents could find informal support. The parents recognised that these efforts would not be enough to remove social barriers and therefore also made recommendations for policy and practice. The late diagnosis of children in Malta and Gozo is a barrier for children’s language and social development. Parents would like to see new-born hearing screening in place for all children in Malta and Gozo. Parents also strongly suggested that professional counselling should be made available to parents receiving their child’s diagnosis in the future. Furthermore, service coordinators who could provide unbiased information about the parents’ options may help parents feel more in control and empower them to make informed choices. A national strategy on the provisions for children with a hearing impairment and their families could help ensure increased awareness campaigns for the public and professionals working with children along with training, improved services and the opportunities for children to participate fully in society. Description: M.A.DISABILITY STUD. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26393 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26386 Title: Experiencing the job interview process : different perceptions by persons with physical disability and HR managers Abstract: This research set out to achieve a deeper understanding of the experiences and perceptions of persons with disability in Malta and of human resource managers in relation to the recruitment and selection process. This specific topic has not yet been studied in Malta. A qualitative research method was used and two separate sets of interviews were conducted. The first set consisted of six persons with physical disability and the second set consisted of six HR managers in the role of recruiters. The semi-structured interviews involved questions about the job interview experiences and perceptions of job seekers with disability and those of HR managers. A comparison between the views of the participating employers and jobseekers with disability exposed various similarities and five main themes emerged. These themes included the various meanings of work for persons with disability, the importance of preparation and reasonable accommodation prior to and during a job-interview, stigma and discrimination, the lack of knowledge of disability by recruiters, and the positive support of the quota enforcement by the recruiters. This research shows how accessibility and accommodation are still lacking in Malta together with other barriers that concur with the literature from other countries on the employment and advancement of jobseekers with disability. The study concludes with a number of recommendations that may help to understand and address the perceptions of jobseekers with disability and their experience of the recruitment process in Malta. This research ends with recommendations on disability both for employers as well as for jobseekers with disability. The study also includes recommendations for a higher level of consultation by authorities regarding the quota system, and proposes stronger enforcement of reasonable accommodation and accessible adverts during the job recruitment process. Description: M.A.DISABILITY STUD. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26386 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z