What It's Like to Be Disabled in Bulgaria

I am a 42-year-old disabled person from Bulgaria. I’ve used a wheelchair for the past 29 years. I am one of the few people with disabilities living in this most inaccessible environment independently. In Bulgaria everything is inaccessible — streets, hospitals, homes, shops, governmental institutions, municipalities and social services. We do not have the opportunity to work, and we are left out of the educational system.

Here disabled people are poor by default. We are often stuck in our homes, usually living with about 70 to 100 € per month. We may have the ability to go out a few times monthly — if people or family help us to leave home! We can’t go to hotels or on vacations, as our resorts are inaccessible for disabled people.

I live in one of the four big cities in Bulgaria. The people who live in small villages or towns are essentially dying a slow death, with no access to the outside environment, education and jobs. They usually do not even have simple medical care. They are completely isolated. This is the situation even though the country is part of the European Union!

Here even most people without disabilities can’t say they live a quality life, because most of the population lives on the border of poverty or under it. Only a very small percent can afford a quality life, including good food, clothes, vacations etc.

Within this environment, I live a relatively active life. I have found a way to be part of society. It is difficult for me to speak about myself, but I realize that my achievements, even if very small, are important. I am one of the few people that can leave home whenever I want. I am a licensed driver and my car helps me a lot with being independent.

I work from home and I earn enough to be just on the border of surviving. I have money for bills, food, diesel, cat food and care, but I have never earned enough for vacation or traveling. In Bulgaria, 99 percent of people with spinal cord injury can’t even dream about this. My life is a huge success because I have freedom — freedom to see the sky, to breathe the air, to walk around and feel life.

I have learned how to clean my home, how to fix things at home and how to cook. I live as every normal person, the only difference is that I live with impossibilities and must deal with them every day. Still, my social life is limited because I cannot enter so many places where people communicate, meet and make friends.

In recent years I have been fighting for the rights of disabled people to be part of society, to have access to life. This fight is very difficult, as the government does not want to make reforms to create a positive and dignified life for us. So we continue to live as if we were in the 18th century, with little improvement.