BACKGROUND

The history of this project is probably similar to the history of all initiatives of this kind: similar way of life, fierce fight for school, studies, apartment. Years of uncertainty, insightful observation of social life, defining your own role in this play as well as no consent for a life on the dole and on the margins of society. In the (happily) past era, to graduate a secondary school by a girl in a wheelchair was a pretty great challenge even in a big city, let alone small towns or villages. Getting into a bus (which are so sentimentally recalled by the enthusiasts of the last era) was only possible as a “paralyzed bag” being carried by two people like a victim of a car accident: under arms, legs, body hanging down. No wheelchair could be pushed either into narrow bus doors or a train wagon (having gone through the obstacle course and with a bit of luck one could travel on the landing near the toilet). No doubt, therefore, that no one could be possibly dreaming about regular transport to school or university. Later on it was just like in a pre-war song “stairs, stairs, stairs, stairs…”. It is hard to do without them in a revue, however, in our world they are just the scariest of dreams: “…so you stand under stairs, it’s raining, no one’s there to lift you up…”. It looks like that everywhere: at school, (frequently) at home, in offices. The only one possible solution was to attend schools in rehabilitation centers: Świebodzin, Chylice, Wrocław. Having graduated secondary school, only the determined decided to take up studies. Nevertheless, even a degree of the most sophisticated department was no guarantee of getting a good job in the vast majority of cases and the alumni were doomed to unemployment. Many people were changing schools. After secondary school, and even with the title of Master (deeply hidden in a drawer), the choice was limited to: basic vocational school, post-secondary school in a specially adjusted establishment, then, maybe some weeks or months in Stegny. Life under constant pressure: “how is it going to be in a month or two?”. Various measures are taken to obtain diplomas, work and, at the end – your own house (it must be adjusted from the level of plaster and concrete dealing with builders and their never-ending “No, it cannot be done like that!”). There is no way to get to the construction site, everything is remote controlled. Meanwhile, the level of communication services has improved, sometimes (unfortunately with a certain level of difficulty) one can get in the bus, underground, tram. Nevertheless, after 15, 20, 30 years of “fitness trails” the muscles refuse to obey. You are no longer strong enough to get to the bus station, you will not get into underground using a ramp, the smallest threshold is a new challenge. There is only city transportation ordered by the telephone or via e-mail, therefore, it must be booked many days in advance. Climbing the “Everest” of rails brings about an incredible increase in the level of adrenaline in people using electric wheelchairs, which frequently results in giving up the idea of leaving one’s home at all. This situation has been described in an article published at the Association’s website http://onepl.org.pl/aktualnosci10.html. A steeplechase through architectonic, educational, professional and social bumps brings about motivational short breath after some years. We turned fifty, life is stable, however, we do not have enough strength to perform some small activities which are necessary in everyday life. It turns out that there is no one to rely on and that one day someone falls off the bed and… stays that way, alone on fifth, ninth floor. It is not fear of loneliness, but fear of emptiness, helplessness and being placed in a nursing home or health care center. After a long-year fight for dignity, work and independence it is rather a poor outlook. This is the reason why the project of living together with a group of friends in a complex of apartments was developed. Living in our own apartments, among neighbours with similar life situation who have known one another for years and are aware of the constraints of the other man. A wise friendship is the only one way to deal with limitations resulting from our disease and to solve problems of everyday life. It is also a way to avoid loneliness or being shut in a nursing home or health care center.