Motivation Romania Foundation marks International Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day by launching a photo exhibition, Abilities Matter. The exhibition includes images that capture people using wheelchairs, in different poses, fulfilling active roles at home, at work, in the community. By displaying the photographs, the exhibition aims to promote the abilities of people with disabilities and an active lifestyle in a wheelchair.

“The Abilities Matter exhibition showcases people in their full potential to promote inclusion and encourage people with and without disabilities to pursue their passions and take active roles in their communities. We are grateful to both those who appear in the images and those who captured them, because together we contribute to reducing the prejudices associated with people with disabilities,” said Erika Garnier, coordinator of services dedicated to wheelchair users at Motivation Foundation Romania.

At national level, there is no statistics on the number of wheelchair users. According to international statistics, it is estimated that 300,000 Romanians need wheelchairs to move around. The estimate is based on a report by the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP), according to which 1.5% of a country’s inhabitants require wheelchairs. Also according to international data, provided by the World Health Organization, in developing countries, only 10% of people who need a wheelchair have access to such mobility equipment.

Abilities matter is a traveling exhibition, which debuts simultaneously in Bucharest and Galaţi. Starting from September 5, the photos will be exhibited to the public at the ARCUB gallery – Cultural Center of the Municipality of Bucharest, Hanul Gabroveni, 84-90 Lipscani street, sector 3, Bucharest. In Galati, the exhibition can be visited at Shopping City Galati, ground floor.

Abilities matter can be visited free of charge, starting in September, thanks to partnerships with public and private institutions that have shown their support: ARCUB – Cultural Center of the Municipality of Bucharest, the Swedish Embassy in Romania, Drumul Taberelor Shopping Center Bucharest, Coresi Mall Brașov, Cinema Dacia Cluj, Multifunctional Educational Center for Youth “Jean Constantin” Constanța, Shopping City Galati, Photography Festival //SEQUENCE, Ploiești.

The project is implemented by Motivation Romania Foundation in partnership with Segoia Association and benefits from a  239,827 euros grant from Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021 . The content of this website does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org. More details about Active Citizens Fund Romania are available at www.activecitizensfund.ro. The project aims to support the social inclusion of disabled people by improving the mobility and health of wheelchair users.

More information about the project can be found by accessing the link https://motivation.ro/abilitatile-si-drepturile-conteaza/.

Working together for an inclusive Europe.

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