Disability: the fight for an independent life
A group of young La Plata claims the right to have personal assistants
For John Cobeñas, independence has its own name. Mariana called in the mornings, afternoons and Fabian. Unable to move and communicate without help, they are his arms and his voice for most of the day. Without their personal assistants could not dream even having a life outside your family or an institution, as happens today with those who can not pay for that service. Perhaps there are those who feel that provide personal care coverage to all persons with disabilities who need it is a luxury the state can not afford. Juan, however, argues that it is a right and is willing to do cumplir.Junto Julian, William, Victoria and Mario, Juan Cobeñas integrates the first group in our country fighting to impose a new model of independent living for people with disabilities . Aspiring to live in the community without relying on institutions or their own families. And with that goal calling for the mandatory coverage of personal assistance in cases of discapacidad.Aunque barely known in Argentina, the figure of the personal assistant has been around for decades in some countries of Europe and the United States as part of health care coverage to entitled persons with disabilities. It is also the basis of a model that aims to ensure genuine inclusión.A lack of personal assistants in our country the benefit system for people with disabilities work with therapeutic companions. "But is not the same," says Juan, "the accompanying therapeutic work in terms of a therapy and what we need is someone to help us in our daily lives." In addition, social work will provide the escort service treatment a certain amount of hours only during the months of classes. And we need personal assistance throughout the year. I will not live locked in my house or my life depend on my family to do my things, "says Julian Vasquez, another member of the Task Force on the Social Model (GAMS). Thus, many disabled people are now dependent only in our country the support of their families to dressing, eating, toileting, shopping or having a social life. "We do not pretend that it is a luxury," it says. "THE LAW IS" The fact is that personal assistance, rather than a luxury, "is today a recognized right for our country, which does not compliance means, "says Elena Dal Bo, a member of the Blue, an NGO for independent living of persons with disabilities." In August last year Argentina ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities United Nations and enacted into national law. This means that the law is, now we have to enforce it, "says Dal Bo, who participated as an observer in the preparation of this document internacional.Hacer to enforce the Law 26,378, which incorporates the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UN to national law, is precisely the objective of the Task Force by the Social Model. With that goal, its members publicly present days ago a proposal for work, opened a blog to disseminate and are seeking the accession of Buenos Aires legislators to turn it into a provincial law. "The idea is that the state will cover people with disabilities, regardless of their disability, personal assistant during the hours it takes. And who is himself the beneficiary to manage those hours as needed, in addition to select and hire their own assistants, "explains Julián.Como in the country there is a tradition personal assistance, the very drivers of the proposal have also planned to provide the specific training required. "We are organizing a short course of training of personal assistants. We will make ourselves with some guest lecturers. We have a list of people qualified to when the provision is approved, "says Juan.Al Like his bandmates, John Cobeñas recognizes the challenge that is imposed is not easy:" It's going to do much work for us personal assistants are support we can use everybody, "he says. But for someone born with a severe disability that prevents him from communicating or move without assistance and is now about to begin a university career, the challenges are not new.
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