Life with a disability: Sometimes I forget that I’m different
During the construction of a public school in Almaty, I pointed out
that the new building needed to be equipped with spacious elevators and
ramps.
My suggestion was met with puzzled looks and a sheepish remark that
this was not a “special” school. This incident made me reflect on the
status of people with disabilities in Kazakhstan.
Our society needs to fundamentally revise its attitude and keep an open mind.
Disabled does not mean defective; people with disabilities should not
be crammed into special institutions, but rather integrated into
society like everyone else.
Social prejudice and stereotypes create issues of accessibility, as
the environment – even in large cities as Almaty and Astana – is not
properly equipped to meet the needs of people of disabilities.
As a result, people with disabilities often feel discouraged and
confine themselves within the walls of their homes. It is a cycle that
needs to be broken.
The limitations created by my disability drove me to become more resolute to succeed, to prove to everyone that I am no different.
At the age of 14, I was given crutches to help me to walk and I left
the hospital with the realization that my medical diagnosis was now an
inseparable part of my identity. I was devastated, but I did not lose
hope.
In the 1960s, unlike now, the issues of people with disabilities were
completely unaddressed and ignored, and we were practically invisible.
As a result, I constantly struggled with discrimination. I was rejected
from high school because of a driving class and was refused a teaching
position at the Kazakh National University because I could not
participate in the annual potato harvest (!).
These obstacles were frustrating, but I never gave up. I demanded that my rights
be respected and I persevered, going as far as stealing the principal’s
keys in protest and arguing with the University dean until I was
granted a job offer.
Today, it is relatively easier for people with disabilities to
function in society. We have a :::::union::::: of People with Disabilities, and as
the Chairman of this organization, I organize numerous visits,
seminars, and lectures to different regions of Kazakhstan to raise
awareness and promote the rights of people with disabilities.
We actively lobby for equal access to education, leisure, and employment – and we are slowly, but surely reaching success.
>> Kazakhstan: A champion for people living with disabilities
As social and cultural barriers are tumbling down, people with
disabilities need to overcome one more important challenge: They need to
understand that a physical disability is not a life sentence and that
they can enjoy a happy and successful life despite their diagnosis.
Society is growing more understanding and accepting, but what matters
is that you need to accept yourself too. Do not let your disabilities
hold you back – propel yourself forward and strive for the best.
SOURCE: UNDP Voices From Asia