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Traditionally, Maltese disabled people have been a voiceless and invisible social minority. Principally this has been due to stereo-typing by a society which views disabled people only through their biological deficits and does not take into account their ability to adapt to different circumstances and situations. In the majority of instances this has led to significant over-protection, low expectations and deep social and cultural deficits.

This study-unit seeks to interrogate the root causes of Maltese disabled people's lack of self-esteem and involvement in mainstream social activities and their historical low involvement in disability issues at national and international levels.

The study-unit will seek to interrogate the history of disabled people shedding a light on the centuries of fear, mistrust, misunderstanding and discrimination which disabled people have had to confront over the centuries. It will focus on the development of major models of disability. Thus, the study-unit will introduce participants to the social model of disability, providing a detailed history of the discrimination which disabled people have had to confront over the ages. The study-unit will focus principally and in great detail on the development of disability issues and a disabled people's history in the Maltese islands. It will look into the different attempts made by individuals, the voluntary sector, religious groups and the state to redress and minimise discrimination and to bring about an improvement in the lives of disabled Maltese people. In this way it will encourage students to take a critical view of the situation of disabled people in Malta, locating it within the context of a historical continuum.

Method of Assessment

Main Reading List

• Camilleri, J.M (1998): ‘Disability: a personal odyssey’. Disability & Society, Vol. 14, No. 6, 1999, pp. 845-853.
• Camilleri, Joseph M. & Callus, Anne-Marie (2001): ‘Out of the Cellars
• Disability, Politics and the Struggle for Change: The Maltese Experience’. In Barton, Len (2001): Disability, Politics and the Struggle for Change. David Fulton Publishers. London. UK. Chapter 7. Pp: 79-92.
• KNPD (2007): Rights, Not Charity: Guidelines towards an inclusive society and a positive difference in the lives of Maltese and Gozitan disabled people. URL: www.knpd.org.
• KNPD (2012): Mizuri Favur il-Persuni b'Dizabilita' (Edukazzjoni, Xoghol, Trasport u Accessibilita', Legislazzjoni, Djar. URL: www.knpd.org.
• Oliver, M (1999): Disabled people and the inclusive society: or the times they really are changing. Public lecture on behalf of Strathclyde Centre for disability research and Glasgow City Council, 27th April, 1999. Internet publication URL: www.independentliving.org/docs4/oliver.html

Supplementary Reading List

• Borg, C & Camilleri, J.M. (2009): ""Daisy Petal Picking: Maltese media’s love-hate relationship with vulnerable people"" in Borg, J., Hillman, A., & Lauri, M.A. (2009): Exploring the Maltese Media Landscape. Allied Publications. Malta. (Chapter 9).