Ivars Balodis: We are ready to share our experience in universal design with Belarus

“We are much valued not only for criticizing but also for telling what should be done and how to do it”, says a representative of Latvian organization working for the good of people with disabilities.

 “We are valued not only for criticizing but also for making recommendations”

In what cases is joint work a great way to integration? Why do we talk not only about people with disabilities when we are talking about accessibility? What services can NGO render? We are trying to find answers to these questions together with a representative of organization “APEIRONS” Ivars Balodis who together with his team came to Belarus to participate in Accessibility Week – 2014.

- How and when did the idea to create the organization “APEIRONS” appeared?

- The organization was created in 1997 on the initiative of people with disabilities and their friends. The idea was not to create a special organization just for people with disabilities but to give a possibility to work together to all the people who wanted to solve problems. It was unique for that time a new way of integration, which was a success. The name of the organization originates from ancient Greek word meaning “heavenly substance”. It is very symbolic: projects implemented by “APEIRONS” are still innovative for Latvia. We always look for unordinary ways to solve problems existing in the sphere of disability.

- You have been working in the sphere for 15 years. What changes have happened in Latvia during this time?

- Since the creation of the organization and till now provision of accessibility at all levels has been one of our main priorities. The difference is that 15 years ago we talked about ramps and elevators and now we have reached a new level – we are promoting such notion as “universal design”. With time we understood that not only people with special needs need an accessible environment but many other categories of people as well – elderly people, mothers with strollers… If we are going to make environment accessible it will become comfortable for all. For example, today we are actively working not only with organizations which deal with disability issues but with many others, for example, organization of young parents. This category of citizens very often faces different problems because of inaccessibility of environment.

By the way, this year we visited Accessibility Week – 2014 in Belarus to share the experience in the sphere of universal design we have, we talked with architects, designers and HR defenders. We are ready to share the experience; we took a lot from abroad, from more developed in this sphere Scandinavian countries. We are open for cooperation.

We monitor accessible environment in Latvia, consult, hold social actions and teach.

- Is it true that you have a special agency, which makes evaluation of accessibility?

- It is true, we have the Department of accessible environment. Specialists visit different objects on daily basis, they check blueprints and see that accessible environment is created at the stage of new buildings projecting. Otherwise in the future everything will have to be rebuilt and it will be much more expensive. There are definite priorities in EU: you shouldn’t just build but also think if everyone can equally use it.

Our expert can also consult on issues of environmental improvement. They explain what should be done for people in wheelchairs and for people with visual and hearing impairments. But it is important to once again mention that it is not for a dozen of people – about 80 percent of population need accessible environment. Our organization is the only one in Latvia working on the issue. We are very much valued not only for criticizing but also for telling what should be done and how to do it.

- What other useful services do you offer?

- We work in other spheres as well. For example we render assistance to families raising kids with severe forms of disabilities. We help them to find a nurse. Although we have a special state program but the state can’t provide everyone with this service in equal measure and we help to allocate funds from donations. The second service we provide from donations is medical and social rehabilitation. Very often rehabilitation is not available to families with low income and in cases when it can’t be done in Latvia and you have to go abroad. Thanks to our support children with disabilities went to dolphin therapy to Ukraine, Germany and USA.

- Do you have some educational “activities for all”?

- We have our TV program in which we show how to solve different issues in our sphere and also news. We tell what is going on around us, where a person can rest, how to get there etc. The name of the program is “Three quarters” it is because the problems we deal with worry three quarters of the population and the information we present is not only for people with disabilities.