‘Accessibility: The Art of the Possible’– Inspire Foundation launches the highly-anticipated annual conference in collaboration with AX Foundation.
Following last year’s successful conference, the Inspire Foundation has announced this year’s conference on “Accessibility – The Art of the Possible” in collaboration with AX Foundation. The conference will take place on the 10th of October 2024, at the AX The Palace Hotel in Sliema and will focus on critical issues surrounding physical, digital, and social accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Featuring a total of 22 distinguished national and international speakers and professionals, this conference brings together key stakeholders from various sectors, including education, employment, government authorities, healthcare, students, and service users, to discuss and explore innovative solutions for enhancing accessibility in Malta. Organised by the Research and Innovation Council at Inspire, the conference will feature a keynote address by the Council’s Chairperson, Dr. Richard Mills, Special Advisor, and Head of Research & Clinical Support at AT-Autism London. Dr. Mills will highlight the importance of accessibility as a fundamental aspect of inclusion, emphasizing the role of mindset in determining what is possible. “Accessibility is one of the true tests of inclusion. It is influenced by many factors, not least our mindsets about what is and what is not possible. The art of the possible is therefore as much determined by what we think, as by what we do,” Dr. Mills explains.
The event will be opened by Hon. Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Hon. Graziella Galea, Shadow Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, and the Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Commissioner Rhoda Garland.
Dr. Ruth Moyse, Director of AT-Autism London, will close the conference with key takeaways of the day’s discussions.
For the full program and speaker details, please visit the official conference website at https://inspire.org.mt/event/the-art-of-the-possible/.
Laura Sue Armeni, Chief Officer for Research and Innovation at Inspire Foundation, emphasized the foundational role that research plays in advancing the organisation’s mission:
“Continuous research is at the heart of improving our services and ensuring we remain at the cutting edge of support for persons with disabilities. By delving into new approaches and directly engaging with those who have lived experience, we can refine our strategies and deliver even more effective and tailored services.”
Antonello Gauci, Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Foundation, accentuated the organisation’s deep-rooted commitment not only to those it serves directly but also to society as a whole:
“At Inspire, we recognise that our responsibility extends far beyond delivering essential services to individuals with disabilities. We have an obligation to society to lead by example, setting new standards in accessibility and inclusion. This commitment drives us to innovate, advocate, and educate—working tirelessly to build a more inclusive and equitable society for all.”
“AX Foundation is proud of supporting and sponsoring Inspire in this year’s conference’’, Mr. Joseph Borg, Deputy Chairperson of AX Foundation continues. ‘’For the past years, AX Foundation has put its main focus the support to children and young adults with invisible challenges in their learning journey towards an independent adulthood. This collaboration with Inspire, is complimentary to the work we do in this field, and therefore we are very proud to extend our support to the organisation of this year’s Conference in October.”
Registration is open to the public via the conference website: https://inspire.org.mt/event/the-art-of-the-possible/.
