Changing models, changing perspectives : according to the history of disability services in Malta

Abstract

This research sets out to study four different milestones in the history of Maltese disability services. After identifying these milestones the researcher researched out documents in which protagonists or observers described the context and the need for such provision. Also five interviews were conducted with key persons in the field to see what made such provision important in the history of disability and also to try and identify which model each provision made use of. A shift was observed in the four different milestones and the models identified in them were the Rehabilitation Model, the Supported/ Empowerment Model, the Restricted Citizen Model and the Independent Model. In most cases the amalgamation of two models was observed and this was because in reality people try to pursue different values which do not necessarily belong to the same theoretical model. The influence of the Supported/ Empowerment model in nearly all of the four milestones was noticed and this showed the researcher that the Maltese people in general tend to want to care and protect persons with disability by supporting them. As disability services continued to develop empowerment became a more important feature. A gap was noticed in the media with regards to persons with disability where the Restricted Citizen Model is very often followed. Also the Supported/ Empowerment model still remain, as improvements have only arrived 'halfway'. These findings suggest that those advocating for persons with disability should make sure that such services are assured. Making use of the Support/ Empowerment Model and also with some aspects from the Independent Model, persons with disability should be helped to live a complete integrated life in society by not only ensuring that one's needs are met but also that one is contributing according to his or her abilities to the rest of society. Thus one recommends the clarification and promotion of a value system in our society so that people would have an intrinsic motivation to work towards the promotion of an equal society. Also campaigns should be launched among professionals and also the general public to promote the use of the Independence and Supported/ Empowerment models in one's line of work. One could also conduct a research on the influence of the media and the issue of persons with disability. The identification of gaps in the different services present today is also important because although support is given to many there are always those individuals who are not being catered by the system. Once these gaps are identified one could create policies so that these gaps could be filled.