‘Inclusion depends on shifting awareness, addressing barriers faced by persons with disabilities’

Inspire Malta CEO Antonello Gauci said that society needs to become more mindful of the realities faced daily by persons with disabilities and their families, noting that many still struggle with barriers in everyday life despite growing awareness around inclusion. Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday , Gauci said that these families are often simply trying to "go about their daily lives" yet continue to encounter difficulties including inaccessible environments and public attitudes, as well as shortages of specialised professionals and growing strain on support services. Gauci said that while Malta has made significant progress over the years, inclusion remains an ongoing challenge that requires continued collaboration, greater public awareness, and a deeper understanding of the everyday realities faced by persons with disabilities and their families. He stressed that many of the barriers encountered are not only physical, but also attitudinal, stemming from limited awareness and understanding within society. "We have come a long way when it comes to inclusion, but there is still so much more to do," he said, adding that creating a truly inclusive society also requires a stronger commitment to equity, ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to the understanding, support and opportunities they need to participate fully and meaningfully in everyday life. Gauci said Inspire's own services are under growing pressure as more children are being identified and referred for support at earlier stages. "The reality is that we, as an organisation, have run out of space because the demand has increased substantially," he said. The NGO currently operates from Bulebel, Marsaskala and Gozo, offering a range of education, therapy and support programmes for persons with disabilities from early childhood through adulthood. Inspire's services range from intensive early intervention programmes for autistic children under the age of five, to adult support programmes for individuals with profound multiple learning disabilities. The organisation also offers supported education programmes, therapeutic intervention, parent guidance services, job coach mentoring and inclusive sports and wellness initiatives. Gauci explained that the increase in demand is partly linked to better awareness and earlier assessments. "With research and with the assessments that are being carried out at earlier stages, situations become clearer much sooner and therefore support can begin from a younger age," he said. He noted that Inspire's early intervention programme starts from around the age of three. As a result of growing demand, the organisation is now focusing heavily on expanding its physical infrastructure. Gauci said Inspire has secured EU funding through the European Regional Development Fund and Komunita Malta, for a project known as Ċentru Stubbs in Marsaskala, which he described as a "fit-for-purpose building" intended to expand the organisation's capacity. The project forms part of a broader long-term strategy focused on improving accessibility, quality and sustainability. "One of the biggest priorities right now is creating additional physical space so that we can continue offering services not only to current users, but also to others waiting to receive support," Gauci said. He added that Inspire is also looking at eventually expanding services geographically, particularly into northern Malta, in order to reduce travel burdens on families. "We operate from the south, but we are also looking at the need to operate from the north because it would help families who currently need to travel long distances," he said. Beyond infrastructure and services, Gauci repeatedly returned to what he described as the need for greater sensitivity and understanding within society. He described situations faced daily by families of children with disabilities, particularly autistic children, who may experience sensory overload in a supermarket or behavioural challenges in public spaces, which he said are everyday realities. Gauci said that inclusion is not limited to physical accessibility. While physical barriers remain a challenge in many places, particularly older areas such as Valletta, he said that the issue also extends to environments that are not adapted to the needs of neurodivergent individuals, as well as to attitudinal barriers stemming from limited awareness and understanding. He said that meaningful inclusion requires not only accessible spaces, but also a society that is informed, accepting and responsive to the diverse needs of all individuals. "We are not only talking about ramps and physical accessibility, we are also talking about environments that are suitable for children and adults with sensory requirements," Gauci said. He acknowledged that progress has been made in recent years. Gauci pointed to initiatives such as autism-friendly cinema screenings organised by the Eden Group, as well as increasing awareness among businesses and public entities. Still, Gauci said that families have the right to expect more. "It should be a given that every individual has a place in society and can participate fully," he said. Pressure on services and specialised professionals Gauci also spoke about the wider challenges affecting disability services in Malta, particularly shortages of specialised professionals. "Our biggest issue at the moment is the lack of certain professionals in specific sectors," he said. He explained that some specialised services are only available privately, creating financial and logistical difficulties for families. "Parents and guardians can find themselves waiting weeks to receive certain services, or having to pay substantial amounts privately," he said. Gauci also suggested that Malta continues shifting towards more collaborative and empowering models of support. One area Inspire is focusing on is parent empowerment and training. "If we empower parents as therapeutic partners with strategies and approaches on how to deal with certain situations, how to better support their children and continue certain practices at home, then intervention becomes seamless and not limited to the hours spent within the service," he said. Gauci said Inspire's approach involves working not only with the individual person with a disability, but also closely with parents and guardians. "The journey continues when the child goes home. There needs to be continuity in communication, in support and in the way situations are managed," Gauci said. Inspire Malta's programmes include the Step Intensive Early Intervention (IEI) programme for autistic children under five, Step Forward for school readiness and socio-emotional development, the School Outreach programme supporting children in mainstream schools, and the LinC (Learning in Context) programme for neurodivergent children requiring a more specialised educational setting. The organisation also runs Step Beyond 1 and 2, focused on social skills development for autistic children, the Star programme for adults with profound multiple learning disabilities, and Pathfinder, a free guidance and support service for families following a diagnosis. In addition, Inspire operates a Rehab and Wellness Centre offering therapeutic and rehabilitation services, as well as charity shops that help fund its work. He also acknowledged difficulties linked to staffing and retention. Although Inspire's turnover is relatively low, he said retaining specialised professionals remains difficult due to salary competition within the market. "It is not easy when professionals leave to work outside of the field they have specialised in because salaries elsewhere are significantly higher," he said. "At the same time, we need the right people in the right programmes if we want to maintain high-quality services," Gauci said. He said that the foundation currently employs more than 200 people. Gauci described recruitment as one of the sector's ongoing challenges, saying Inspire places major emphasis not only on qualifications and experience but also on values and culture. "The passion and dedication of the people working in this sector are extraordinary. There is a genuine commitment to driving meaningful change in the lives of individuals and families," Gauci said. "This is clearly reflected in the exceptional team of professionals at Inspire, whose work has a direct and lasting impact on the individuals they support, and on the broader progress of inclusive practice. Without their commitment and expertise, this level of impact would not be possible," Gauci added. Collaboration with government and NGOs Gauci also repeatedly spoke of the importance of ongoing collaboration with government ministries, agencies, persons with lived experience, parents and other NGOs. "We are very conscious that NGOs exist because there are gaps in society," he said. He explained that Inspire works closely with the Ministries for Education and Inclusion through public social partnership agreements. The organisation also collaborates with other stakeholders in the disability sector, including parent groups, regulators and other NGOs. "Our services should complement what government is already offering. There is constant discussion about needs, gaps and how we can continue improving services together," Gauci said. Gauci said that Inspire continuously reviews and audits its own practices. The organisation holds a number of certifications, including ISO certification, the FHRD Quality Mark, and advanced certification from the UK's National Autistic Society. He explained that these systems are important because they allow the organisation to measure quality standards and ensure it is following the latest research and best practices. "We constantly ask ourselves whether we are doing things in the right way and whether we can do things better. Change is essential," Gauci said. Gauci went on to say that Inspire's Research and Innovation Council plays a central role in identifying gaps, reviewing practices and exploring future developments. The council includes both local and foreign experts, as well as persons with disabilities themselves. "It is essential that persons with disabilities are collaborators in the decisions we take," he said. Gauci said Inspire continuously measures whether its services are genuinely improving the quality of life of users and their families. "It is not enough for someone to leave with a smile. We need to know whether the service is truly having an impact and improving quality of life," he said. Gauci said that Inspire intends to continue investing in research, innovation and quality standards while expanding its reach. The organisation recently organised a conference focused on artificial intelligence and how emerging technologies could support persons with disabilities and improve services, he said. "If we are not going to embrace technology and innovation, then we risk losing opportunities to support more people," he said. At the same time, he said that the broader societal conversation around disability must continue evolving. "We are in 2026. Technology keeps advancing and society keeps changing, but we still have all these challenges in what we call an inclusive society. There is still so much more that needs to be done," Gauci said. He said that organisations working in the disability sector have a responsibility to continue advocating, raising awareness and pushing for change. He spoke of the need to keep inclusion at the centre of public discourse, and that when society actively recognises and removes barriers, both structural and attitudinal, it moves closer to genuine equity. "Such an approach not only supports persons with disabilities to participate fully and independently but also strengthens society as a whole by promoting diversity, widening participation, and enabling more balanced and representative communities," he said. He added that despite the challenges, the sector remains deeply rewarding. "Our tagline is 'Transforming lives together' because we cannot do this alone. It is together with families, stakeholders, professionals, donors and society, that change happens," Gauci added.