I am 38 years old. I have a degree in Maths and I have been working as a teacher in secondary education. I dedicate my time and energy to social activism (Independent Living Movement) and political movement (ICV). Since 2006 I have participated together with 7 other people in a pilot project of self managed…
damjan tatic What is your personal experience of disability? I have been a wheelchair user since the age of 10. I have been actively involved in Serbia’s disability movement since 1993, first in the Muscular Dystrophy Association as leader of the Youth Group, then as one of the founders of CIL Serbia in 1996 and…
I am 30 years old and I graduated from the University of Belgrade (the Faculty of Philology, the Department for English language and literature) in 2002. I live with my parents in Belgrade, my home-town. As a freelance translator I have worked for many companies and organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities. In…
Javier Romañach My name is Javier Romañach Cabrero, I’m a 47 year old computer scientist and social activist. I was born in Spain, in Manresa, a small town not far from Barcelona, but I’ve lived in Madrid most of my life. I’m single and live in an apartment on my own, where I am…
I’m the youngest of three, my eldest sister is not disabled and my middle brother has the same condition as I have. My parents worked and now both are retired. I live a more or less independent life in my own house with my partner for the last 11 years. I’ve always had to live…
What is your personal experience of disability? I was born with my disability and because of that I have personal assistance 24 hours a day and I’m using a power wheelchair. How did you discover the Independent Living movement? My first contact with the Independent Living moment was on a seminar held by Ed Roberts…
My name is Mirica Ačko. I moved to Ljubljana when I started to study geography and pedagogy. When I was a child I lived in an institution; now I live an independent life with personal assistance. I am employed in YHD as a coordinator of PA. Last year was particularly interesting since I have moved into…
What is your personal experience of disability? My name is Mojca Lukner. I was born healthy and I was developing normally until the age of 4. Then strong pain began to appear; I was diagnosed with a tumor on my spinal cord. These were terrible moments of uncertainty and fear, but on the other hand…
My name is Katrin Modic. I have a 10 year old son. During the week we live in Ljubljana and we spend the weekends at our house in the countryside which is also our real home. I am employed at the Jožef Stefan Institute which is the leading Slovenian scientific research institute, covering a broad…
My name is Tjaša Kos, I live in an independent household in Ljubljana together with my partner and a 17 month old son. What is your personal experience of disability? Blindness. How did you discover the Independent Living movement? Actually I discovered it by coincidence. I first got information through word of mouth and then…
Miguel Fonseca Mathematician Q: How long have you been involved with the Independent Living Movement and with ENIL in particular? A: I started being involved with the Independent Living Movement recently, in 2008. In Portugal, there are not many solutions and Independent Living is still an unknown expression. I thought it was about time that…
Jose Antonio is a member of Foro Vida Independiente y de Asistencia Personal para la Vida Independiente (ViGalicia) and a board member of AMBAR Acción Social, S.L.U.
Jean-Pierre Ringler was born in the late 40s in Alsace, France. He lost his eyesight and one hand as a kid when he found a World War II handgrenade and played with it. How long have you been involved with the Independent Living Movement and with ENIL in particular? I have been in contact with…
I am originally from the south of England, a little place called Camberley. I was born in a cottage hospital in 1962: making me a grand old age of 47. Being born with Spina Bifida means that I have not always been a wheelchair user; a significant fact as I believe that the initial ability…
1947 born in Bamberg, Germany 1978 – 1990 translator for English and French 1977 co-founder of the Students’ Initiative for Disabled Persons 1988 co-founder of the CIL Erlangen, employed at the CIL ever since, peer-counsellor, since 1997 senior head of the CIL counselling service 1990 co-founder of ISL, the umbrella organisation of CILs in Germany…
Jamie Bolling, American, Swiss and Swedish, is the Executive Director of ENIL as of May 1, 2009. Jamie has an experience from the international disability movement having worked with disability research, international development cooperation, personal assistance, human rights, democracy and other issues. She worked as research developer at the Swedish Disability Federation, with evaluations for…
Biographical Notes Education 1977 BSc Law (Catholic University of Leuven) 1981 MSc Social Law (Free University of Brussels) 1988 Dip Proficiency in English (University of Cambridge) Work Experience 1977-78 Researcher at faculty of law, Catholic University of Leuven 1978-2001 Lawyer at Fund for Labour Accidents (Brussels) 2002-2003 Legal expert at the Cabinet of the Belgian…
Biographical Notes Horst Frehe is a national economist and judge at the Social Court of Bremen, Member of the State Parliament in Bremen for the GreenParty, one of the founders of the “cripple movement” in 1977, member of the independent living movement of Germany, and is active in several disability groups, for example “Forum of disabled lawyers.”…
Our series of interviews continues with Adolf Ratzka. Adolf lives in Sweden and has been founding chair for ENIL from 1998 to 1992. He is a founder and board member of the Independent Living Institute and also a Personal Assistance user.
We interview Personal Assistance users from different countries on a regular basis. In August 08, ENIL PR Officer Tanja Richter talked to Vanya Pandieva. Vanya lives in the Bulgarian capital Sofia and is a member of the local Centre for Independent Living. We talked to her when she visited the CIL Bad Kreuznach in Germany….
