My name is Ivan Andreea, I am 35 years old, and I live in Bucharest. I was born with spastic paralysis (spastic tetraparesis) and at the moment, I can only move around with an electric wheelchair. I have never walked upright, I can only use my left hand, and have difficulty pronouncing words.
On August 25th, I received an invitation to attend the Empathy Retreat camp, Inclusive Dialogue, which took place in Sibiu.
First and foremost, it was a completely new and fascinating experience for me. Over the course of five days, I had the pleasure of meeting wonderful people, each of whom taught me something valuable. I appreciated the fact that we engaged in discussions about the exclusion and inclusion of people with disabilities and those who are perceived as different from us.
I participated in a game held at Dumbrava Nature Park, which I found highly engaging. Participants were tethered to each other by ropes and had to navigate a path by stepping on sheets. They had to be cautious to ensure these sheets were not left unguarded, as the “bear” would steal them, resulting in the participant leaving the game. People with disabilities had unique abilities and served as guides for able-bodied individuals, emphasizing the importance of cooperation. The game was a powerful demonstration that individuals with health challenges can coexist and collaborate with healthy individuals. We learned that people can support each other and create beautiful things, provided everyone maintains an open attitude and discards preconceived notions like, ‘Oh, he’s in a wheelchair; he can’t do anything or help me.’
During the game, I noticed that even a boy with Down syndrome was careful not to break the connection between us. This proves that his mind is active; he thinks and is capable of more than others might assume. Until then, I had never had the opportunity to meet people with Down syndrome, but I knew that they often face unfair stereotypes of being considered incapable. It was heartening to see the opposite, that they are capable of analysing and participating in activities.
Such a game would be ideal for implementation in kindergartens and schools to instill a sense of diversity from an early age. Let’s stop drawing conclusions based solely on appearances.
Sibiu is a beautiful city, but it has areas that are inaccessible to people with various disabilities. As a wheelchair user, my visit to some cultural sites in the city center was somewhat challenging. I could visit tourist areas such as the Main Square, Small Square, Lies’ Bridge, and St. Mary’s Evangelical Cathedral without major issues.
However, I encountered difficulties at the Natural History Museum. The first obstacle was a high step at the entrance to the courtyard. With assistance, I managed to overcome it. I was only able to visit the ground floor, where I enjoyed viewing colorful butterflies and various insects. There was an stairlift in the museum that malfunctioned when I attempted to go upstairs; it stopped too high above the floor level, making it impossible for me to descend. It seemed that whoever installed the system hadn’t considered how a person in a wheelchair could navigate it, especially given the considerable distance between floors. At that moment, I felt excluded.
I explored these places with a team of four people. One of them blindfolded herself to experience the world as a blind person. Through this experience, I realised how fortunate I am to be able to see and appreciate my surroundings. However, I also noticed the lack of Braille signs, tactile markers, and audible traffic signals for people with visual impairments. Society, despite advanced technology, still falls short in supporting the independence of people with disabilities.
Empathy Retreat, Inclusive Dialogue, is a camp that should occur more frequently. It’s an experience that opens hearts and minds, and I’m immensely grateful for having participated.
