Annual General Assembly Meeting of CIL
On 03.11.2015 was held the annual General Assembly meeting of CIL. Kapka Panayotova, as chairwoman of the association, presented the CIL’s activities in 2014 and during the ten months of 2015. Was held discussion of the work plan for 2016 and also were elected seven new members of CIL, which previously were submitted an application for membership. The meeting ended with an informal coffee break. More about CIL’s projects can be found on our website under “About us – Annual Reports”.
The error is true!
On the Social Assistance’s Agency website, we are reading: “A project for BGN 65 million will provide integrated social and health services”. The website further explains that “the Social Assistance’s Agency (SAA) is a specific beneficiary under the Direct Alternative Grant Procedure” New Alternatives” under Priority Axis 2 “Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Exclusion” of the Operational Program “Development of Human’s Resources 2014-2020”.
Read More“Proud, Strong, Visible”, or how the disabled people in Norway protest
Friday, the 13th of June 2014…
In the center of Oslo, right in front of the Norwegian Parliament, the next edition of the traditional annual Pride Drive takes place. Hundreds, but REALLY HUNDREDS!, people with disabilities from all over Norway come together under the slogan “Proud, Strong, Visible” to make a statement to the public, but also to make their claims to the state for respect for their fundamental human rights, for personal assistance and for equality as citizens.
And we know very well how we dreamily sigh about their way of life – they have so much more than the right things of which we can only dream here – personal assistance, civil rights, equality, accessibility and yet… hundreds go out on the streets every year to claim they are proud, visible and strong because they are together!
Read MoreIMITATION OF ACTIVITY
The government is proposing changes to the Disability Integration Act , but not to these which are needed by the people. This is called an imitation of activity – you are doing something to brag that you have done the job. The thing is seemingly safe – facilities for enterprising Bulgarians who want to be entered in the register of specialized enterprises. No matter that these businesses are inherently harmful to people with disabilities and costly to the state: people with disabilities have almost no employment in them, and tax breaks and subsidies benefit their government and nationally represented organizations. However, this is not commented on in the reasons for the bill; this is not investigated and analyzed because it is explosive. A strange reaction (or lack of such) on the part of people living on the edge of poverty – without income and without work.
The situation with the intention of Minister Hasan Ademov regarding pensions and benefits for people with disabilities turned out to be quite different – a sensible and ill-considered undertaking. The news in the press (an article in 24 hours) has blown up the social networks and drowned the minister in a storm of muddy comments.
You can find our position on these issues on our blog.
THE TALE ABOUT THE FOX AND THE STORK IN AN EUROPEAN WAY
A meeting with Ms Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission on Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship was held today at the Central Military Club. The meeting was announced as open to all citizens and promised to bring a ray of hope in the very complicated political situation in Bulgaria in recent days.
Of course, we, a group of people with disabilities – Kapka Panayotova, Diliana Deneva, Vanya Pandieva, Mariana Harizanova, Borislav Ivanov, Zivodar Zhishev and Nina Zhisheva, decided that the invitation was valid for us too and at the appointed hour, me, Kapka and Diliana, as most impatient, we stood before the Military Club. Even at the entrance it turned out that the inaccessibility was obvious – we were met by several black marble steps which brought us back to reality.
Read MoreA WONDERFUL MOVIE! A WONDERFUL SMILE! BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT LIVING OF THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG ELEANOR!
The Down Syndrome… is caused by genetic damage, the presence of 3 chromosomes 21 instead of 2. This ridiculous anomaly, a mistake in the arithmetic of nature, is the reason in our otherwise ordered, in our minds, world to appear strange babies with Down Syndrome. Usually, they are branded as low-intelligent, ugly, lifeless, people who definitely need to be looked after… always. But this short film (yes, the movie is actually about thirty minutes long, but its value, wisdom and the warmth that comes from it leave us with a hint of regret at the end) shows us something else. When there is a complex set of tools to make up the deficit caused by a genetic mistake, when there is someone to believe in you, when you believe in yourself, things take on a different nuance. And if an adequate government policy emerges that supports you and gives you the chances, then the world is radically changed by a small, creepy person, with Mongoloid eyes and a big belly, the person becomes a worthy person to whom even the mirror tells “You’re soooo cool, enchantress! The world is yours as well!”
ELECTIONS 2013 – USEFUL MATERIALS
Lately, we have all felt the powerful vibrations that have been circulating around us since Election 2013. Active and aggressive agitation is underway, parties are fighting for our voice and our confidence. But! Yes, history is Bulgarian and as in every Bulgarian history, at least one BUT immediately appears. And now – but to what extent are elections accessible to people with disabilities and to what extent are they guaranteed their right and ability to vote.
In response to this question, we at the Independent Living Center, have endeavored to produce several documents that will be useful to both people with disabilities and all administrative bodies involved in drafting election rules and working on organizing and holding the 2013 elections themselves.
ELECTION TIME – TIME TO BE CITIZENS
We are on the verge of an extremely intense and important election campaign. Many parties will try to entice us, to win our trust. Each of them will stand before us with their powdered and perfumed program, they will promise us, they will tell us beautiful stories WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE MATTER AND THE PROBLEMS – we will remain unhappy disabled for them if we do not enlighten them.
That is why this year we decided to organize the things on which the quality of our living depends and to hold on to them firmly. We have drawn up a document that we will send to parties that have the ambition to take power and responsibility for our future four years.
WHY THE SHELTER HOMES ARE NEITHER “OF FAMILY TYPE” NOR “COMMUNITY SERVICES”, BUT A NEW KIND OF INSTITUTION
After the emotional story of the young people from the sheltered home in Lukovit about the unforgettable day in Sofia, I want to share my thoughts. They are one of the restless who always come out with anxiety and questions. Why, for instance, did it happen that only half of those who came to the long-planned and thoughtful excursion came to Sofia? And is it so difficult to find transportation for everyone?
I do not believe in apologies such as “no opportunity”, “this is the situation”, “it is not happening”. Moreover, when this type of behavioral model, in turn, creates a way of thinking and perceiving the world as a hostile place where people like Petya, Eli, Maria and Toshko find it difficult to fit.
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