[WATCH] Online platform for persons with disability to know their rights launched

The project aims at empowering people with disability by enabling them and their carers to seek access to these 

A new platform has been launched that aims serve as a centralised hub of information to empower people with a disability to know their rights. 

Know Your Rights, developed by the Inspire Foundation in collaboration with the Richmond Foundation provides users with information in the form of a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs). 87 FAQs have been developed and made openly accessible to the public through the platform. 

The website does not provide legal, medical or professional advice but does provide guidance on how to access rights and other services.

Development of the the FAQs commenced on 1 April with qualitative research being carried out, including a number of interviews with people of disability and their carers. The interviews were aimed identifying questions, challenges and and other information commonly sought by these people. Subjects covered included education, employment, estate planning, healthcare, leisure, sport, access to goods, accessibility services, abuse and hate crimes, and access to justice. 

Experiences identified by the interviews included the ordeal of a 28-year-old physically disabled man who faced obstacles attending an interview for a teaching job due to a physical disability. The man was told he should have informed the school administration about hsi disability disability prior to the interview.

Parliamentary Secretary Anthony Agius Decelis, who was present at the launch, praised the foundations’ efforts, stressing the importance of research in the sector.

“Knowledge is power. Therefore, the more knowledge we have through research like this, the more we can empower people to achieve,” he said. 

“The website will help people from all backgrounds of disability, and we hope to offer that helping hand in achieving what they dream of,” Antonello Gauci Inspire Foudnation CEO said.

The webiste can be accessed on: www.know-ur-rights.com