To Be Physically Challenged in Armenia

It must be unimaginably difficult to be physically challenged, but even more so in Armenia. Here's another interesting piece of journalism from Hetq which contains the experiences of physically challenged people and Armenian society:

One of the most important issues is the technical barriers that are the chief obstacle in the integration of the disabled into society. Buildings, streets and other public places have not been adapted for disabled access.

“There are interesting stereotypes about the disabled in our society,” said David Babayan, a Paros choir member, “For example, people use phrases like ‘healthy people and the disabled' or ‘normal people and the disabled.' That makes it sound like the disabled are unhealthy and abnormal people. They think that if your feet don't work, then your head doesn't work either.”

“But the disabled are people too, just like the rest,” added Shushanik, “The disabled wake up in the morning, like everyone else, want to go to the movies after seeing the latest trailer on television, and then sit with friends at a cafe. But how?”

“There definitely have been, I repeat, changes, but I will speak of real achievements when the disabled are able to work, study, use public transport and freely move about in public places,” said Armen Alaverdyan.

Find time to read the article, especially if this issue is of importance to you. It is a very thought-provoking article about the current state of the physically challenged in Armenia.

Source: Hetq