The attitude towards “different” people is changing step by step, although the lack of tolerance for such is still present. The tight-knit community of the Kaunas University of Applied Sciences Tolerance Initiative “Respect & Support” is not afraid to stand out: they bravely accept various challenges, break stereotypes and desire to achieve much more. They vocally challenge the deeply ingrained beliefs, awaken the desire to disregard stereotypes and learn about a person regardless of their age, gender, skin colour, origin, social status, religion, sexual orientation.

In November, 2021, the World Health Organization announced that there are more than 1 billion people in the world with specific types of disabilities. Meanwhile, at the end of 2021, according to the data of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, there were about 221 thousand people with disabilities. Although the situation is improving with an increasing number of places being adjusted to the special needs, Alicija Garbatavičiūtė, a student of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education, who has spastic paraplegia, reveals that the challenges she tend to face are associated with not adjusted infrastructure to all public places and the society attitude towards people with disabilities.

The school was the most difficult challenge

The problem of bullying is still common in Lithuania – parents are taught to notice signs that a child is being bullied, and children are encouraged not to remain silent and seek help. A. Garbatavičiūtė, who chose to study Glass, Ceramics, Leather and Textile Arts study programme, says that she experienced one of the most difficult periods while studying at school.

“Now that I’m almost 22, the condition doesn’t affect me so much, because I learned to communicate with people, I adjusted to my disability. But as a child, while I grew up, most of the time the opinions of others were important to me. As we know, children spread words full of hatred without hesitation, so it was really challenging, but the most important thing is not to give up and move on.

I went through a really difficult time at school, because some people see disability as a contagious disease – as if all it takes is just to breathe in the wrong direction – and a person will get infected and will no longer be able to walk. It is upsetting that people look at those with disabilities in this way, but I think that the attitude is gradually changing for the better,” says A. Garbatavičiūtė.

She also points out that it was challenging not only because of the attitude and remarks of those around her but also because of the limitations caused by her disability: “The children laughing from the way I walk was a minor issue compared to adjusting to the fact that they were able to control movements, run freely, and I couldn’t. It can be said that I set myself free with music and art.”

Accepting the help offered by others is not always easy

Alicija, who has a strong character, is usually chatty and stubborn, didn’t let her to be limited by her disability. The student of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences reveals that most of the challenges she faces at the moment are related to the places that aren’t adjusted for people with mobility impairments.

“The main challenges and difficulties arise in places that are not adjusted for people with disabilities. For example, in winter it is slippery, sidewalks and stairs are not cleaned everywhere, so it is extremely challenging to walk. Also, not all public places have elevators, so you need to climb stairs,” says the student.

Kaunas University of Applied Sciences aims to create a comfortable environment for students with disabilities, therefore, ramps are installed at the entrances to the university and dormitories, elevators and lifts can be used, the library has a SARA CE device for the visually impaired people: the device automatically scans and reads the printed text aloud.

Despite the difficulties encountered, accepting the help offered by others is not always easy. According to A. Garbatavičiūtė, those born with one or another disability are often used to it, having learned to live independently, and the willingness of those around to help sometimes suppresses the sense of independence that for people with disabilities is also significant.

“If a person is born with a disability, he or she is usually already used to having it and will have to live this way. I think in that case, the person may need less support or help because it is clear how to deal with it. As for myself, over time, I have come to terms with the fact that my life is just the way I’m used to, so I have to be independent. While it can be really hard to accept the help offered by others, I know that people do it only led by good intensions,” A. Garbatavičiūtė shares insights.

According to her, the most important thing is to treat people with disabilities equally fairly: “We need to choose a different perspective when it comes to disabled people. If people don’t change their attitude – everything will remain the same. It must be understood that people with disabilities are able to do their best and don’t need society to view them as “secondary”. They are the usual people with their own abilities and dreams.”