Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698136562941.pdf (Malta)
IT-TNAX-IL LEĠIŻLATURA P.L.

7727 Dokument imqiegħed fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra tad-Deputati fis-Seduta Numru 424 tal-10 ta’ Ottubru 2016 mill-Onor.

Robert Cutajar, MP.

_______________________________ Raymond Scicluna Skrivan tal-Kamra Comodini Cachia calls for more support to children with disabilities and thek families in .European Parliament retJort.
"Children with disabilities and their families must be supported through measures of early intervention, adequate social assistance and appropriate community··based services.

The report on disability adopted today at the European Parliament is one step ahead towards a more inclusive and caring Europe."

MEP Therese Comodini Cachia made these remarks following the adoption by unanimity of the Committee on Culture and Education opinion for the report dealing with disability.
Comodini Cachia served as the EPP Group Rapporteur for this opinion and spearheaded various amendments on behalf of the EPP Group.

Comoclini Cachia called for education systems to refrain from creating environments that label lean1ers such as banding and streaming as this negatively affects students with disabilities especially tho~e with leaming difficulties.
She emphasised that educators need access to good resoUJ ces that will empower them to deal with mainstreamed education and that the EU, together with Member States, must provide more opportunities for continuous professional development.

She argued strongly in favom of people with disability in having full access to information in accessible fonnats including sign languages, Braille and other accessible means.
She said that digital tools could serve as an important medium to assist in the inclusion of people with disabilities and that people with disabilities should not be left out or lag behind in accessing the digital and teclmological developments that are constantly taldng place, Comodini Cachia also called on the Connnission to adopt effective measures to prevent violence against persons with disabilities.
She argued that lack of awareness amongst society and general discriminatory views can all lead to violence against children and adults with disabilities.

In the light of research which shows that most anti-violence and anti-bullying measures at Member States level fail to recognise and address particular risk of children with disabilities, Comoclini Cachia called for effective measures to be taken including offering proper training to carers and those who are closest to tl1ese children. "
Reasonable accommodation will not necessarily lead to true inclusion of disabled persons in society Comodini Cachia appointed EPP Group Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities "There is still a long way to go for society to remove the obstacles it places on persons with disabilities.

Even we as politicians, at times use lcmguc1ge that focuses on the vulnerability of people rather than their potential.
We seem to highlight the disadvantages we perceive people to have rather than at what they can fiiifil.

This will continue to impair the much needed empowerment towards independent living that leads to social interaction.
11 MEP Therese Comodini Cachia made these remru·ks during a consultation meeting with civil society at the European Parliament in Bmssels as part of her new role in the Culture and Education (CULT) Conunittee where she has been appointed by the EPP Group as shadow rapporteur on the "Implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities with special regard to the concluding observations of the UN Conm1ittee on the rights of persons with disabilities (CPRD)".
Comodini Cachia argued that whereas the concept of inclusive education had been incorporated in a munber of Member States, there is the need to review whether this reflects tme inclusion or only reasonable accomodation.

"Persons with disabilities make a valuable contribution to society, and this contribution can be even greater if inclusion was genuine and effective.
11 In the light of a hub for persons with disability which was proposed by the Maltese Govenunent aod which was criticised by civil society, Comodini Cachia emphasised that this incident clearly highlights reasonable accommodation and bue inclusion.
"My main concern is that measures which the EU is fimding and measures which Member States implement are measures which continue to highlight the disadvantages rather them the potential of people with disabilities thereby hampering their right to independent living and access to .fit!!

participation in society.


11 importance of distinguishing betwee11 the Comodini Cachia who is an eSkills ambassador aod who is currently working on how aspects of robotics can serve to tackle everyday life challenges said "It is possibly the right time to see how technology and artificial intelligence brings more inclusiveness and more independence".
"Disability Is not within the person but lies in the obstacles the environment places on a person" - Comodini Cachia "Effective access to education, cultural goods and events, as well as sports Is very important to bring about the culture change that is needed for persons with disabilities to reach their full potential.

The disability does not lie within the person but within the environment that places obstacles on the person.
These tools, not only accessibility, together with the media can be catalysts for equality for persons with disabilities."
Maltese MEP Therese Comodini Cachia made these remarks during a Culture and Education (CULT) Committee meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels when discussing the draft opinion on the 'Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with special regard to the Concluding Observations of the UN CRPD Committee' for which she is rapporteur on behalf of the EPP Group.
Comodini Cachia stated that the European Union should concretely mainstream equality for persons with disability across all its work.

She argued that educators deserve credit for the work they carry out in inclusive education and called on the European Union and Member States to prioritise training and resources that educators need to be better empowered to face the challenges they find In the classroom.
She emphasised the Importance of making digital tools available to persons with disabilities and of ensuring that they are not left behind in the digital sphere.

In this regard national and EU legislators will in the report be encouraged to take into consideration accessibility requ'1rements in the implementation of the Digital Single Market legalisation while taking concrete action to tackle cybercrime and cyberbullylng against disabled people.
In the coming days, Comodini Cachia will continue to meet members of civil society so as to ensure that the Report will effectively reflect the needs of persons with disabilities.