Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/964110
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 11 APRIL 2018 8 News T he Down's Syndrome Association is a voluntary non-governmental organisation, established in 1981 and run by parents of persons who suffer from Down's syndrome. The work of the Association depends upon the generosity of its members and the general public who voluntarily, in some way or another, help to encourage people who suffer from Down's syn- drome to fulfill their potential for a successful and happy life, in a society that recognises their abilities and is supportive of their needs. The work starts when parents, carers or guardians contact the Association for support and guidance. This support starts from newborns to adulthood for a person suffering from Down's syndrome and we are also there to support their parents, carers or guardians. It is of utmost importance that all those who need support make contact with the Association in order to receive needed moral support and advice from like-minded people. The Down's Syndrome Association helps in training through counseling or advice and by other means available to persons who suffer from Down's syndrome, and the parents or custodians (guardians) in the family environment. Speaking to other parents can provide moral and emotional support, first-hand advice on your child's health and development, and knowledge on what support is available from education, health and social sectors. As babies grow older and start to face other obstacles, the association works really hard to help them overcome any obstacles by making the necessary pressure and encouragement and by helping the government and all the competent entities to ensure the development, better services and greater choices in the facilities offered to children and adults who suffer from Down's syndrome, such as when it comes to education, therapy, training, independent living, supported employment and leisure. When it comes to youths suffering from Down's syndrome, they ask for activities with other youths. We, as the Down's Syndrome Association organise various activities but like other youths of their age, these do not want to have their parents around – they want youths like themselves. The association has joined various youth groups to try and find youth volunteers to attend these activities but till now with no success. They are asking for example for youths to take them out for a pizza, to watch a film or even to help them join in activities organised by other youth groups – in other words to be included in the youth world. They have various projects going on which, if they will be accompanied by youths – that is youths for youths – these projects will be more interesting. At present these groups meet on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Youths are welcome to come and give a helping hand to fellow youths like themselves in expressing themselves, learn life skills and also learn music. Everybody can help in making the wish of these youths come true. Students who are learning computer studies can help in giving computer lessons, others can help in photography. Any other ideas for more activities are welcome. Then we arrive to adulthood, where like all other persons, adults suffering from Down's syndrome would want to work and live independently. Here, society in general plays an important role in the life of a person suffering from Down's syndrome. The association promotes the interests, development and integration in society of all those persons who suffer from Down's syndrome. Parents of children with Down's syndrome work hard to raise them to be independent. They wish to get them involved and to reach their maximum potential. When these children grow up it is up to the society to see and understand that these persons also have certain abilities. When given a chance to express these abilities persons who suffer from Down's syndrome can give so much back to the society. These last years the Down's Syndrome Association has been engaged in working and being more determined to raise awareness on the condition, starting from social media, programmes on TV and radio, and by raising more awareness in schools and the work environment. It is the duty of the Down's Syndrome Association to help the society understand and believe in the abilities of persons suffering from Down's syndrome and advocate for their rights to be valued and fully included as key contributors to society. Joeanna is President of the Down's Syndrome Association Member organisations of the National Youth Council (KNZ) have been invited to submit opinion articles on topics affecting youths today, to its member organisations. The contents of the article do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of the Council. The work of the Down's Syndrome Association Joeanna Xerri JAMES DEBONO A draft legal notice is propos- ing that all fireworks facto- ries, which have been in ex- istence "since, or before, the year 1994" and are currently in existence are to be consid- ered as "permitted develop- ment". 1994 was chosen as a cut-off date, due to the availability of aerial photos subsequent to the set-up of the PA in 1992. The legal notice will also consider the "operations" of such factories as a "permitted development". This effectively means that when applying for extensions or further development, fire- works factories will not have to prove their legal status. This will facilitate upgrades related to health and safety. At the same time this could increase pressures on the sur- rounding countryside. In the past there have been cases where fireworks facto- ries applying for extension permits were unable to pro- duce the original permits. The new legal notice will ad- dress this problem. In 2014 a case officer assess- ing an application to upgrade the Saint Catherine's factory in Wied Hareb in Zurrieq had raised concern that the submitted plans referred to an old permit that was not traced during the planning process. However, the factory was covered by a police licence and in 2008 an enforcement notice was issued on site for an extension to an existing factory. According to the PA this implied that the use of the site to create fireworks had "long been established". The PA is currently assess- ing an application to regu- larise and extend a fireworks factory in Ta' Sqaq Awzara in Qormi. The Environment and Resources Authority has not objected to the proposal, not- ing that such development has to be located in the ODZ but has asked for plans related to a permit dating back to 1984. The legal notice which in- serts a new category in the law regulating Development Notifications Orders has been issued for public consul- tation last week. The new cat- egory will cover existing de- velopment related to Malta's culture and tradition. Pre-1994 fireworks factories to be regarded as 'permitted'