Odysseus in Action: the 4th Interview in Chios island
Our sponsors and partners, whose support made this DHIAfest journey possible: Attica Group, KTEL Athens, KTEL Thessaloniki, KTEL Igoumenitsa, KTEL Chania, and Hellenic Train. Thank you!
Στις 21 Σεπτεμβρίου, στο πλαίσιο του DHIAfest, επισκεφθήκαμε το Κέντρο Ατόμων με Αναπηρία στη Χίο και μιλήσαμε με την πρόεδρό του, Cristina Pavitsov. Συζητήσαμε για τη σημασία της ένταξης των ατόμων με αναπηρία στην κοινωνία, την ανεξαρτησία και την προσβασιμότητα. Παράλληλα, γνωρίσαμε από κοντά τις δημιουργικές δραστηριότητες του κέντρου, όπου τα μέλη αναπτύσσουν δεξιότητες, συνεργάζονται και δημιουργούν προϊόντα που στηρίζουν το έργο του κέντρου.
September 21st, Chios island. We continue to keep you updated on what happened during our DHIAfest journey. This time, we had the opportunity to visit a center for people with disabilities on the island of Chios and speak with Cristina Pavitsov, president of the center of disabled people on Chios. Cristina gave me an extensive interview in which we talked about her work, the activities of the center, the challenges that people with disabilities face on the island, as well as her own achievements in paralympic sport. We discussed all of these topics during the interview, which will be released soon in video format. But today I want to talk about something a little different. In this article, we will talk about why the integration of people with disabilities is important not only for people with disabilities themselves, but also for society as a whole.
1. We live in a capitalist world.
Therefore, if we look at the issue as pragmatically as possible, a perfectly logical question arises: “What does everyone else get from integration?” At first glance, this question may sound cynical. But it is precisely through this question that we can explain why creating an inclusive society is important not only from the perspective of social justice. Imagine an ordinary workplace. If it is initially designed only for one hypothetical “average person,” then a huge number of people automatically face additional barriers. Sometimes it is a staircase instead of a ramp. Sometimes it is the absence of an elevator. Sometimes a person needs more time to complete a particular task, a different form of communication, or adapted equipment. At the same time, the problem is very often not with the person themselves. Very often, the limitation is created by the surrounding environment. If we take different physical abilities into account from the beginning when designing buildings, transportation, workplaces, websites, applications, and public spaces, some of these barriers simply disappear. A person with a disability can then study, work, create their own projects, participate in sports, engage in art, start a business, and participate in public life not because society has “done them a favor,” but because the environment no longer prevents them from doing what they are capable of doing. And this is where an important economic aspect appears. Inclusion is not only about expenses. Yes, creating accessible infrastructure requires money. Adapting a workplace can also cost money. Sometimes special equipment, additional employee training, or changes to an existing system are required. But at the same time, society gains access to a larger number of people, their skills, knowledge, and professional potential. If a person is capable of doing a particular job but cannot enter a building because there is no ramp, the problem is not with their professional abilities. If a specialist is perfectly capable of doing their job, but a company’s digital system is not adapted to their needs, the company is effectively creating a barrier for a potential employee itself. That is why an inclusive approach should be considered not only as a form of social responsibility, but also as a way to make society and the working environment more functional. Moreover, many solutions that are initially created for people with disabilities later turn out to be convenient for a much larger number of people. A ramp is necessary for a person using a wheelchair, but it is also convenient for parents with a baby stroller, someone with a temporary injury, or an elderly person. Subtitles help deaf and hard of hearing people, but they are also useful for someone watching a video without sound. A clear and well structured website may be essential for someone with certain difficulties in processing information, but ultimately it is easier for almost everyone to use. Therefore, inclusion is not about creating a separate world for people with disabilities. It is an attempt to make the common world more accessible to different people. And perhaps the main question should not be, “What do we gain if we integrate people with disabilities?” but rather, “How many opportunities does society lose when it does not allow people to participate on equal terms?”
2. Integration helps a person become independent rather than dependent on the help of others.
When society creates an accessible environment, a person with a disability has to rely less on relatives, friends, social workers, or random passers by. The ability to use public transportation independently, go to a shop, attend cultural events, work, or receive an education is directly connected to a sense of independence. This is especially important because having a disability should not automatically mean losing control over your own life. A person may require a certain amount of assistance, but assistance and dependence are not the same thing. An accessible environment allows a person to make more decisions for themselves about where to live, where to work, what to do, and who to communicate with.
3. Integration reduces social isolation and changes society’s attitudes.
If people with disabilities are rarely present in public spaces, schools, universities, workplaces, sporting events, or cultural events, society can begin to perceive disability as something distant and unfamiliar. This can lead to stereotypes. But when a person regularly interacts with people with different physical and other abilities, disability stops being an abstract concept. You no longer simply see the word “disabled person.” You see a specific person, a colleague, athlete, artist, student, neighbor, or friend. And this works both ways. A person with a disability also gets the opportunity to be a full part of society rather than existing separately from it. Therefore, integration is not only about changing the physical environment. It is also about changing the social environment.
4. An inclusive society is better prepared for the possibility that anyone may one day face limitations.
There is a fairly simple point that is often forgotten: disability is not always congenital or permanent. A person may suffer an injury, experience an illness, lose some physical abilities with age, or temporarily find themselves in a situation where they need an adapted environment. Therefore, accessible infrastructure is not something created exclusively “for other people.” Today, a person may be able to walk up stairs freely, use public transportation, and move independently around a city. But circumstances can change. And if society is built from the beginning with different human abilities in mind, it becomes more resilient and accessible for everyone. Ultimately, inclusion is not about creating special conditions for a small group of people. It is about creating a system in which human diversity is considered normal from the very beginning.
So, during the video interview, we managed to talk about some fairly basic things: Cristina’s work, her personal experience, and the problems faced by people with disabilities. But we barely had time to talk about the center itself. And I think it deserves to be discussed separately.
The center for people with lisabilities is located at dimokratias 8, Chios. And the first thing that surprised me when Cristina gave me a tour of the center was the atmosphere. I expected to see an ordinary social institution. But almost immediately, I caught myself thinking: “Wait, am I actually in a center for people with disabilities?” I felt as if I had walked into a small art studio. On the second floor, there is a space dedicated to creativity and handmade work. There is printing equipment, laser equipment for working with materials, various tools, and a huge amount of creative materials: acrylic and gouache paints, markers, and much more. But the most interesting thing here is not even the amount of materials. Cristina told me that the purpose of the center is not only to help people with disabilities receive the necessary support from the state or access social services. They also try to create opportunities for people to make and create things themselves. And this “something” has several different purposes. First of all, it is socialization. People work together, communicate, help each other, and become part of a team. This is especially important when a person can become isolated from ordinary social life because of their disability. Secondly, it creates an opportunity to earn money. Participants create various small products and gifts that can then be sold. For example, they make small gifts and souvenirs for weddings, and they also organize markets during Christmas and Easter. The money they raise goes back into supporting the work of the center. So, a person here does not simply receive help. They can actively participate in creating something that has value for other people. And finally, there is another important component: developing fine motor skills. For people with certain motor impairments, including paralysis and cerebral palsy, working with their hands can be part of rehabilitation and developmental activities. Therefore, drawing and working with small objects, materials, and tools is not simply about “making crafts for the sake of making crafts.” There is a very specific purpose behind it: to give a person the opportunity to develop their skills, communicate with others, create something with their own hands, and see the result of their own work. And perhaps this is what struck me the most during my visit. When we talk about integrating people with disabilities, it is very easy to reduce the conversation to ramps, elevators, accessible transportation, and government support. All of these things are genuinely important. But integration is also about the opportunity to create. The opportunity not only to be someone who receives help, but also to be someone who produces something, comes up with ideas, sells things, communicates with others, and contributes something of value to other people. At this center, people do not simply receive assistance. They create their own space where they can be part of a team, develop their skills, and turn their own ideas into real things.
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