The Styrian Heinz Sailer (59) is paralyzed. His summary as former chairman of the Styrian Committee for the Disabled is mixed. Above all, love would have saved him.
“My mother’s love saved me,” says Heinz Sailer when he thinks back to 1983. The then 17-year-old was sitting in the backseat of a car on April 1 when a serious accident occurred: two cervical vertebrae broke and the Styrian has been stuck ever since. in a wheelchair.
No chance on the labor market
But it wasn’t so much the accident that was traumatic, but what happened afterwards: “I wanted to become a professional firefighter, I could tick that box. That’s why I trained as an office clerk. “But I had no chance on the labor market,” he says.
One of the many obstacles that still separates those affected from a self-determined life: “You have to be happy if you get feedback on an application at all.”
Progress in mobility in cities
In 2008, Austria committed to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (including including inclusion measures). Sailer was chairman of the supervisory committee of the state of Styria for five years. His conclusion: “In Styria we are well positioned when it comes to personal assistance, and Styria was also a pioneer in the field of the Disability Act. Mobility is good in Graz these days, but in the regions it is still very different.”
Often the will is there, but the implementation is lacking: “It happened to me that a hotel room was designed for the disabled, but I could not fit through the door with my wheelchair. Or that the toilet in the restaurant was built barrier-free, but I couldn’t get past the sink.”
Sailer is not a party, but recently supports and advises the Styrian KPÖ with his expertise. Why? “Because it is the only party that is accessible to ordinary people and is genuinely interested in inclusivity. Because when it comes to true inclusivity, we are still at the beginning.” How is he today? “Good. I am fortunate to experience love through my wife.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
