Although differently abled people form a sizeable portion of society (approximately four per cent, or 20,000 of Malta’s total population is registered as disabled), they are among the most emarginated social groups. The media generally spins one of two narratives; they are referred to as either “victims” or “superheroes”, a fact which discourages people with a disability from taking a more active role in public life.

However, one campaign in Malta is seeking to debunk these stereotypes with a focus on normalising disability. The Commission for the Rights of Persons with a Disability (CRPD) has teamed up with award-winning photographer Darren Zammit Lupi for a photographic campaign aimed at increasing the visibility of persons living with a disability, by portraying them doing what they most enjoy in their everyday lives.

The campaign, which features 12 different photos from 12 separate individuals, highlights how impairments do very little to prevent them from living a fun and healthy day-to-day life. CRPD Commissioner Oliver Scicluna weighs in on the campaign: “The photos represent the passions and aspirations of these persons. Seen together, they are a celebration of diversity, moving away from the notion that disabled people belong to a binary category, specifically, as opposed to non-disabled,” he says.

Among the persons photographed is Rocco Gauci, who is currently studying at ITS to become a chef. There are also wives and mothers, Christine Mifsud, who has a visual impairment, and Annabel Xerri, who is deaf and currently reading for a Masters in Disability Studies.

Also part of the series are Blaine Schembri, who has autism and has a passion for video games, and Samuel Farrugia, who lost his eyesight six years ago but nevertheless harbours a great passion for reading. He’s even writing a novel right now!

Others photographed have not let their impairments stop them from excelling in sports: Siblings  and national Special Olympic athletes Matthew and Annmarie Bugeja, both with hearing impairments, have won several medals for Malta, Philip Gruppetta, a Special Olympics bowler who ranked 20^th among 72 bowlers from around the world and podiatrist Antonio Flores who underwent a below knee amputation and is training to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

There is also Maja Theuma, a 19-year-old Paralympic swimmer who specialises in Freestyle and Backstroke, and Julian Bajada, a layer and para-athlete born with multiple congenital physical impairments to both his lower limbs and a missing right arm.

The series also features Noel Aquilina, one of the founding members of the Malta Basketball Wheelchair Association as well as Maria Gauci, a dancer with Down Syndrome.

“I would like to do away with the differences between those who refer to themselves as normal and persons with a disability, said His Excellency President George Vella during the launch, as he highlighted the importance of parting ways with stigma and discrimination. “In a sense, then, part of our role is to render disabled people visible, helping to change perceptions around disability,” said the Commissioner.