Story of a Young Romanian Woman Disabled by Political Violence
Ingrid Ioan, Romania, age 25 (ingrid_ioan@lycos.com)
Disability World invites girls and young women with disabilities to share brief stories about their lives. Direct submissions to Harilyn Rousso at HarilynR@aol.com.
Disability as an opportunity
I am 25 years old and am originally from Bucharest, Romania. I became paraplegic in December 22, 1989, when there was a big revolution in Romania. During those events, a bullet came in my house through the window, entered my body on the right side near my shoulder, exploded inside of me, hit my spinal cord at the T6 level, and came out the back, near my heart. Many people asked me if I regret what happened to me. To be honest, I don't regret it for a second.
You are probably wondering why. Well because, in this way, I had the chance to see life from a different perspective, to meet wonderful people and to discover real friends. I have the chance now to help others. Why would I want to change all that? OK, it is true: I cannot walk. So what? I still can do so many things. I realize that if you really want to do something, nothing can stop you. For me, the sentence "I can not do it" does not exist. Tell me to go on a top of the mountain and I will--just show me the way. One day when I was in Romania, one little boy from the street told me "You're moving so fast and you don't even have to walk!" We all begin to laugh because it is so true. It is like the old saying: if you have an empty glass and fill half of it with water, it depends on how you look at it whether that glass is half full or half empty.
Teaching computers and writing
Right now, I am in the United States for the second time. I was first here in 1994, when I was awarded a scholarship to take part in the International Leadership Exchange organized by Mobility International USA (MIUSA) in Eugene, Oregon. When I went home later that year, I became the Social Program Coordinator for the Society of People with Locomotion Handicaps in Bucharest, Romania; I was 17 years old at that time and I worked in this position as a volunteer for two years. After finishing high school in 1996, I became certified as a Computer Programmer. In 1997, I was selected to be the primary Computer Instructor at the computer center of the Society of People with Locomotion Handicaps in Bucharest (a computer center financed by European Community). I continued to work in that field for six years, training children and adults to use computers. Additionally, I was a writer, graphic designer and contributing editor, responsible for the English edition of The Winner, a monthly magazine published in Romania.
Lobbying for disability rights
In 1997, I became a member of the Leadership Committee for the Romanian-British charitable organization, Romania Connect. Over the past eight years, I have been an active representative of the non-governmental organizations' (NGOs) lobby movement in Romania, representing several NGOs in conferences, seminars and meetings, where I advocate for accessibility issues and other rights for people with disabilities. In 1999, I completed a series of courses offered by the Organizing Support Program of Handicap International France and Synergies Romania, which was financed by the European Community Program, PHARE Democracy. These courses included: Conventions & Contracts, Communication Skills, Financial Strategy & Fund Raising, Conflict Resolution & Organizational Management, Administration of Human Resources, Participation Programming, and Causal Analysis. That same year I was selected to be part of the National Committee for organizing the ten-year Anniversary of the Romanian Revolution in 1989, and was chosen to give a speech to the Romanian Parliament.
Exploring international opportunities
Then, in 2002, I earned a scholarship from the British Council to attend the Inclusion of Young People with Disabilities in International Exchanges training sessions, organized by the British Council in Essex, U.K. This past year I have continued my pursuit of international opportunities by becoming an intern in the International Development and Disability Department of MIUSA in Eugene.
I am presently a student at the American English Institute (AEI), University of Oregon, where I received a scholarship. In the fall term, I completed all classes with excellent grades and made the Director's Distinction List. Because I cannot afford University tuition, I am retaking some of the AEI classes to improve my English and will continue studying there until my scholarship ends in September 2003. At the same time, I am unofficially sitting in on a class in Cross-Cultural Business Communication at the University.
Next steps
As for my future plans, I recently applied for a scholarship at the University of Oregon, and if I am lucky enough to obtain it, I will start my studies there in the fall term of this year, majoring in International Studies.
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