On the occasion of the , the ACCESS Disability Support Unit (ADSU) and the Department of Disability Studies (DDS) held an event titled ‘Making the Invisible Visible’.
The aim was to highlight how not all disabilities are visible and that, even when a disability is visible, not all obstacles faced by persons with disability are always obvious.
There was a brief discussion about the provision of access arrangements for students with disability and workplace accommodations for staff with disability in addition to other support services at the University of Malta.
Additionally, it was acknowledged that persons with disability achieve success in their lives thanks to their skills, talents and hard work. But accessible environments and the provision of impairment-related support also play a key role in enabling persons with disability to maximise their potential.
It was observed that support can be both formal and informal. The latter includes support from family, friends and peers. Likewise, ensuring accessibility is not only about having physically accessible infrastructure, such as ramps, lifts and reserved parking. To name some examples, access and inclusion are also about not parking in front of a ramp, even if it is just for a few minutes; creating presentations and printed information which are accessible for those with reading disabilities; being aware that persons with sensory processing difficulties can be distracted by background noise and other stimuli which others can tune out; making spoken communication accessible for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; and appreciating that persons with anxiety or attention difficulties need breaks during lectures, exams and the work day to function well.
Informing oneself about creating accessible environments is crucial to avoid the creation of disabling barriers. Ultimately, accessible environments benefit everyone, not just persons with disability.
