A new set of video CVs aims to challenge outdated stereotypes about persons with intellectual disability by showcasing their abilities and potential.
The project CaVetta ghall-Futur, Video Curriculum Vitae of Persons with Intellectual Disability, consists of a set of 10 video clips featuring persons with intellectual disability and their aspirations and experiences in relation to employment.
It showcases the participants’ skills and abilities, challenging the mistaken assumption that persons with intellectual disability cannot hold down a job or contribute to the workplace.
‘Viewed together, these videos show how persons with intellectual disability have an important contribution to make to society,’ said CRPD Commissioner Samantha Pace Gasan.
The participants were selected following an open call and represent a number of conditions as well as social backgrounds, abilities, gender and age groups.
The videos feature comments by the participants’ employers, job coaches, colleagues, therapists, social workers and other persons working with them. They show that persons with intellectual disability often also bring other valuable skills and abilities to the workplace, such as determination, punctuality, creativity, teamwork and a wish to learn.
The clips also show how work is given a lot of value and importance by persons with intellectual disability who speak about the importance of having a salary and making friends but also look at employment as the key to independent living and new opportunities.
“This project is championing the National Strategy for Disability. Launched last week, the Strategy hammers on an important pillar: employment for disabled persons,” said Julia Farrugia Portelli, Minister for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing.
“This project clearly shows that when support services are provided, persons with intellectual disability when given the opportunity to start working independently, can give a lot in return.”
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Disability Studies at the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta and the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CPRD). The research team was composed of Dr Anne-Marie Callus, senior lecturer within the Department of Disability Studies, Isabel Bonello and Cristina Grech, two persons with lived experience of intellectual disability and Sandra Borg, Communications Manager at CRPD.
‘Each clip tells a story, showing that, behind the policies and statistics, ultimately we are talking about persons who have potential, talents and aspirations,’ said Dr Anne-Marie Callus, who led the project.
These video CVS will be used as part of an online resource pack on the University of Malta YouTube channel, creating a resource for employers and various professionals to appreciate the abilities of persons with ID; and for academics and students to use for teaching, learning and research.
You can watch the brief promotional video here, it is only five minutes long and it gives an overview of the whole project : www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw7czzcrxdQ
More info and the whole set of videos here : www.crpd.org.mt/c%cc%87avetta-ghall-futur-project/
