On 8 th December 2012, 23 people with disabilities from Timișoara (Romania) founded Association “ Ceva de Spus”. Ceva de Spus in Romanian means Something to Say. They made the rules of association and voted Presidents, Vice-presidents, Secretary and the Auditor.
The Auditor is the person who controls documents at the end of year,.
Presidents are Elisabeta Moldovan and Raluca Popescu. They organize the activities of the Association. When they will meet with politicians and other important people they will speak in the name of the Association.
The Vice-Presidents are Răzvan Rogojan and Cosmin Miloș. They will take responsibilities from Presidents and replace them if they are not in town.
The Secretary is Carmen Iacob. She will take care to gather the contributions of members and will handle the documents.
Something to Say Association wants that life of persons with disabilities to be better.
We want to live in the community, like other people. We want to close the long term residential institutions. We want to have ramps so that persons in wheelchairs to can get in buildings. We want materials in easy to understand language, that people with intellectual disabilities to understand what is written. We want people with visual problems can go on the street safely. We don’t want to be discriminated. We want the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities to be respected.
We want respect, not pity!
8th of December was known until now as the day when John Lennon got killed. From 2012 it became an important day in our life too, because the group of self advocates “Ceva de Spus” (Something to Say) was turned into a legal NGO.
With the first serious snowfall this year, was born a serious Association made of self advocates, having on board persons with physical and intellectual disabilities.
We think we already proved several times that we don’t have only something to say, but we are in action: deleting the inscriptions “is prohibited from using the playground equipment for children with disabilities” in playgrounds of Timișoara, we started the accessibility campaign in the West University of Timisoara. We are promoting abilities of persons with disabilities and we are fighting discrimination.
In order to have a stronger voice we associate with the aim to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities having four major goals:
a. Deinstitutionalization and promoting life in the community
b. Complete Accessibility of society.
c. To defend and promote the rights of persons with disabilities and fighting discrimination
d. Promoting the abilities of persons with disabilities, motivation and encouragement
The team who will lead for the next 2 years, is formed by:
Raluca Popescu and Elisabeta Moldovan- Co-presidents
Cosmin Miloș and Răzvan Rogojan – Vice-presidents
Carmen Iacob Kiss – Secretary
“I want to dedicate myself with all my heart for the people with disabilities in institutions to live in the community as well as me. I want these institutions may no longer exist, not even their name! “-Elisabeta Moldovan, Co-President.
“I’ll make “Ceva de Spus” to become a united force, a national force that will be consulted by the local and national authorities when taking decisions concerning people with disabilities.” Raluca Popescu, Co-President.
“I will continue to fight discrimination and will monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities,” Cosmin Miloș, Vice-President
“I will make every effort to develop the self-advocacy movements in all major cities of the country.” Razvan Rogojan – Vice President
“I’ll raise the problem of increasing the monthly allowance for persons with disabilities and will promote the employment of people with disabilities!” Carmen Iacob Kiss ,Secretary
Like John Lennon, we imagine a world where persons with disabilities are not abused anymore, are not locked in institutions against their will, are not segregated and discriminated. But they live in the community, in an accessible society, are respected and valued, they can have a job, they can vote, they can have a family, they can make decisions.
In a sentence: we want to enjoy a full active life like anybody else!
