Alternattiva Demokratika the Green Party has condemned the lack of accessibility experienced by the Deaf and the hard of hearing community due to missing  subtitles on television stations. Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Spokesperson on Disability Issues and Sports, Dr Claire Azzopardi Lane, said: “Despite PL’s electoral manifesto promise back in 2013, such access has not yet been made available. The rights of this minority group, as stated in Article 9 of the United Nations Convention (UNCRPD), ratified by Malta in 2012, which underlines the right to information and communications are thus being infringed.

“The right to access is also underlined by the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive  (2010/13/EU). The Directive underlines that ‘the right of persons with a disability and of the elderly to participate and be integrated in the social and cultural life of the Union is inextricably linked to the provision of accessible audiovisual media services. The means to achieve accessibility should include, but need not be limited to, sign language, subtitling, audio-description and easily understandable menu navigation.’  Such persons are being denied the right to participate fully in political life. Such right is also underlined in the UNCPRD in Article 29.”

AD disagrees with newly appointed Parliamentary Secretary Justyne Caruana, who stated that the sector has been “abandoned” but insists that there is much more to be done that goes beyond conventional integration. Dr. Claire Azzopardi Lane claimed that: “saying that the sector has been ‘abandoned’ would be disrespectful towards those who, without underlying political motives, have worked  to make positive changes in the disability sector. The implementation of an inclusive mainstream schooling system, the ratification of the United Nations Convention and changes in legislations such as the Guardianship Act are examples of good practice.”

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Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party ikkundannat in-nuqqas ta’ aċċessibilita` li jesperjenzaw dawk neqsin mis-smiegħ minħabba n-nuqqas ta’ sottotitli fuq l-istazzjonijiet tat-televiżjoni. Il-Kelliema ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika dwar Diżabilita` u Sport, Dr Claire Azzopardi Lane, qalet: “Minkejja l-wegħda tal-PL fil-manifest elettorali tal-2013, dan l-aċċess għadu ma sarx realta`. Id-drittijiet ta’ din il-minoranza, hekk kif imniżżel f’Artiklu 9 tal-Konvenzjoni tal-Ġnus Magħquda (UNCRPD), li Malta rratifikat fl-2012 u li jafferma d-dritt għal informazzjoni u l-komunikazzjoni, għalhekk qegħdin jiġu miksura.

“Id-dritt tal-aċċess huwa wkoll sostnut permezz tad-direttiva dwar is-serivizzi awdjoviżwali tal-UE  (2010/13/EU). Id-Direttiva tesiġi li ‘Id-dritt ta’ persuni b’diżabilita` u tal-anzjani li jipparteċipaw u li jkunu integrati fil-ħajja kulturali u soċjali tal-Unjoni huwa marbut mal-proviżjoni tal-aċċessibilita` ta’ servizzi awdjoviżwali tal-midja. Il-mezzi biex bihom jiġu aċċessati għandhom jinkludu, imma mhux bil-fors għandhom ikunu limitati għal: lingwa tas-sinjali, sottotitli, awdjo-deskrizzjoni u navigazzjoni tal-menu li jkun faċli tifhimhom.’  F’dan iż-zmien ta’ Elezzjonijiet Ewropej, dawn il-persuni qegħdin ikunu mċaħħda li jipparteċipaw b’mod sħiħ fil-ħajja politika, dritt li huwa wkoll imsemmi f’Artiklu 29 tal-UNCPRD.”

AD ma’ taqblix mas-Segretarju Parlamentari li ġiet mahtuura riċentement, Justyne Caruana, li qalet li s-settur ġie “abbandunat”, imma tinsisti li hemm ħafna aktar xi jsir li jmur lil hinn minn integrazzjoni kif konna nifhmu biha tradizzjonalment. Dr. Claire Azzopardi Lane qalet: “Li tgħid li s-settur ġie ‘abbandunat’ tkun qed turi nuqqas ta’ rispett lejn dawk li, mingħajr skopijiet politiċi, ħadmu biex iġibu bidliet pożittivi fis-settur tad-diżabilita`. L-implimentazzjoni ta’ sistema ta’ inklużjoni fis-sistema tal-edukazzjoni, ir-ratifika tal-Konvenzjoni tal-Ġnus Magħquda  u bidliet fil-liġi bħall-Guardianship Act huma eżempji ta’ prattiċi tajbin.”