In a video message released on Thursday, Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis, saying, “I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis.”

He acknowledged the challenges of recent years, stating, “The reality is that it has been some difficult years, especially the last two. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.”

Nadal steps away from the sport as the second-most successful men’s singles player in history, trailing only his long-time rival Novak Djokovic.

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The Malta Federation Of Organisations Persons With Disability have released a statement stating that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) emphasizes the importance of inclusion and equality in services for persons with disabilities.

Article 19 of the convention outlines their right to live independently and be fully included in the community. This means that services, such as education and healthcare, should be provided in an inclusive way, ensuring participation without segregation.

To achieve this, services must be accessible and delivered in mainstream settings, allowing persons with disabilities to have equal opportunities alongside others.

This shift requires moving away from segregated models of care and education toward integrated environments where accommodations are made to meet diverse needs.

Key elements include:

• Accessibility: Ensuring full access to education, healthcare, and public spaces, including physical access, communication, and services.
• Policy Implementation: Ensuring inclusive policies are fully enacted with adequate resources, teacher training, and accountability measures.
• Changing Societal Attitudes: Overcoming stereotypes and biases that can hinder inclusion and lead to unintended segregation.

The practice of education streaming, where students with disabilities are placed in separate programs based on perceived ability, can hinder social integration and limit development. In contrast, inclusive education aligns with the UNCRPD’s vision of equality, non-discrimination, and participation, offering a more integrated approach for all students to learn together with necessary support.

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