He couldn't enroll in the desired high school or university: his first job failed due to an oversight by the labor office, he faces accessibility problems every day, so again, Blagoje Šturanović (22) from Nikšić says he never gave up on himself.
Blagoje is a wheelchair user.
He wanted to study information technology, but he stayed in his hometown and enrolled in sociology.
"I had to adapt".
Adaptation in the choice of studies brought a new one - the Philosopher's building is partially accessible, at the time of enrollment at the faculty he did not have a car, so he could not even attend lectures, he regularly attends colloquiums and exams during the fall and winter.
He considers the lack of adaptation of most educational institutions to be the biggest problem in the education of persons with disabilities (PWD).
"In the 21st century, the absence of an ordinary access ramp, elevator, Braille literature, teaching assistants, tactile surfaces... forces PWDs to give up on themselves and their lives".
When they cannot get an education, adds Blagoje, for the PWD it means that they will have problems in employment, and being without a job means that it is almost impossible to live an independent life.
He points out that there are many obstacles that PWDs in Montenegro face on a daily basis. Some are denied treatment, social benefits are low, intercity and city transportation is also not adapted. Due to poor accessibility, Nikšićanin adds, some PWDs cannot go to the bank, post office, market, health center, police, labor office..., so often others finish their duties.
"We are in the minority, so how can we consider ourselves less important. All this makes it very difficult for us and forces us to retreat to our houses. Even the mention of disability makes it difficult to get a job in an environment full of prejudices... I failed to get a decision on the degree of disability from the Labor Bureau, due to their irresponsibility and omission. Since then, I have been looking for jobs in the private sector."
Today, Blagoje works as a designer at the company "Oganj".
Even though he is finishing his studies in sociology, he is still interested in programming and constantly follows developments in the field of information technology.
Sociable, happy to go out...
"I'm a revolutionary at heart, I always deviate from the rules and do all the same things as 'normal' only in a different, maybe even more creative way. Everything didn't always go according to plan for me, but it doesn't for most. It doesn't matter what college you graduate from, what your job is, where you live".
Blagoje is convinced that the most important thing for PWDs is to accept themselves, to be educated and socialized.
"PWDs must be more active. The state will not say on its own - yes, you need support. PWDs have to do that themselves, and that's how you sensitize the environment. The most important are persistence, perseverance and healthy thinking. Change comes from people with disabilities themselves."
Cerebral palsy brought severe motor impairments to Samir Guberinić from Bjelopolje.
But he knew that the limits are only in the head, and not somewhere else, thirty years ago, when he finished his law degree in Podgorica.
Jobs followed - as an intern, he worked at the High Court in Bijelo Polje, and was employed at the "Tisa" Day Care Center for a long time.
Today, he is the executive director of the Association for the Support of People with Disabilities in his hometown.
"I have been an activist in the PWD movement since my high school days, when I met people who left a deep impression on me and who motivated me to be active in the rest of my life. Now I also deal with digital design, I study intensively. The association opened a digital printing workshop and we are slowly entering the market".
He has been married for 14 years and has four children with Ermina, who is his great support. He never says that the wheelchair and paralysis hindered him from fulfilling his parental duties. As a challenge, he only mentions the additional responsibility that changes in the value system have brought to today's society.
Bijelo Polje, he says, is full of barriers for PWDs, but he claims that they are only big in people's minds.
Anđela Miličić from Nikšić lives with her parents, but wishes to be independent.
"That way I will have freedom of choice and decision-making".
Angela's disability is the result of cerebral palsy.
Like her fellow citizen Blagoje, she also wanted to study in Podgorica, but at that time she was not ready to live alone, so she entered the Faculty of Philosophy.
"At the time, I didn't know if it was the right choice for me, it took me time to get used to the new environment and overcome the insecurity I had."
She is not a wheelchair user, but going to lectures was a little more difficult, because the faculty at that time did not have an elevator, she had to take the stairs, so it took her a little longer to get to lectures.
"Since I write more slowly, it took me much more time to do a written colloquium or exam," she adds and praises the support of most professors.
She completed her specialist studies at the Philosophical University, after which, in the same year, 2015, she began working as an intern at the Association of Disabled Youth (UMHCG).
The job also meant daily trips by bus to Podgorica and back.
"The comments were different, there were both positive and negative, which I did not attach importance to, because by working at UMHCG I got the opportunity to gain experience and to learn more about the rights of PWDs and understand how important independent living is."
After completing the internship, Anđela continued to work at UMHCG, which, as she says, made her more self-confident and more motivated for further progress.
Now he does not work and lives with his parents, but he wishes for an independent life.
In 1992, the United Nations declared December 3 the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which has been celebrated all over the world since then, including in Montenegro. It is estimated that people with disabilities make up about 10 percent of the world's population.
The exact number of them in Montenegro is not known because the state has never established a register of PWDs.
Milijana wins medals in table tennis
Milijana Ćirković from Podgorica has bilateral dislocation of the hips, scoliosis of the spine and Ehler Danlossindrome (elasticity of connective tissues). Pains, sprains, injuries... nothing, as she says, even when she was a child stopped her from wanting to be on the playground more than at home.
"I always wanted to do some sport. I thought it was impossible, and today I am actively training table tennis in class 6".
She has been playing for table tennis club OSI "Luča" from Podgorica for four years, she is also a member of the national team. She participated in numerous competitions, brought many medals. Some recognitions make her especially happy.
"In May of last year in Bulgaria, I was second, after losing 12:10 in the fifth set, in the final. I received the cup for the most attractive player in the tournament".
This year, Milijana has already won medals in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Belgrade, Niš and her native Podgorica. She won the last in a row, the gold one, last Saturday, at the Tenth Championship of Montenegro.
"This year was successful, I hope the next one will be the same, because there are even stronger competitions waiting for me".
She is actively involved in the Association of Paraplegics in Podgorica, but says that it is mostly through projects. He hopes for a more concrete and permanent job.
"It would provide me with a more secure future."
Milijana also writes a blog and is a self-taught tailor, so she sews some clothes for herself and makes jewelry...
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