Living with a disability in Malta : some cultural, geographical and historical aspects

Abstract

Socially-created barriers are experienced by disabled people the world over, barriers that prevent those with physical, sensory, mental or neurological impairments from participating fully in the mainstream of society on an equal basis with their fellow citizens. The impact that these barriers have over the lives of disabled people is attested by the fact that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability has, since it was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006, been ratified by 192 countries, including those located in the Mediterranean region. The rights upheld in this Convention reflect the many aspects of life in which disabled people face barriers to inclusion: education, employment, health and rehabilitation services, family life, and living in the community, among others.