Advocacy in Action On Monday, Jesus Martinez, executive director of the Red de Sobrevivientes, and nine other local organizations working for disability rights in El Salvador, met with San Salvador’s newly elected Mayor, Dr. Norman Quijano. The objective of the meeting was to discuss an all-inclusive disability rights platform to be integrated into the Mayor’s new policies, especially in regards to the newly proposed and highly contested Metrobus project. El Diario de Hoy published an article with quite a bit of spin yesterday. The Commission of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities have not committed to support the Metrobus project unless the Mayor agrees to make the new system accessible (by including lifts and ramps, making adjustments of local bus stops and curbs, and include modifications for people with visual impairments). “Transportation is one of the biggest obstacles for people with disabilities in El Salvador,” Martinez said. The current system is a socially constructed form of discrimination. For example a person who uses a wheelchair, who cannot afford their own vehicle or who does not have someone who can assist them to get on and off the bus, faces obstacles that sometimes leave them confined to their home or neighborhood. In a city without ramps or enforced regulations to keep sidewalks clear from obstructions (such as parked cars) travel becomes an obstacle course. Without being able to travel freely in the city, persons with disabilities are then forced to face another level of instututional barriers. If transportation is nearly impossible, think about how difficult it would be to find a job, go to a doctor’s appointment, or even complete daily tasks such as grocery shopping or taking your children to school. This was only the Commission’s first meeting with the Mayor’s office. Martinez and his associates are hopeful that in the coming weeks there will be a commitment from Quijano to make the new transportation system completely accessible for persons with disabilities. Alberto Monterrosa, assistant manager of Municipal Public Participation office, and David Reyes, a member of the Legislative Assembly who himself uses a wheelchair, have committed to help push the accessibility policy through.

Advocacy in Action

On Monday, Jesus Martinez, executive director of the Red de Sobrevivientes, and nine other local organizations working for disability rights in El Salvador, met with San Salvador’s newly elected Mayor, Dr. Norman Quijano. The objective of the meeting was to discuss an all-inclusive disability rights platform to be integrated into the Mayor’s new policies, especially in regards to the newly proposed and highly contested Metrobus project.

El Diario de Hoy published an article with quite a bit of spin yesterday. The Commission of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities have not committed to support the Metrobus project unless the Mayor agrees to make the new system accessible (by including lifts and ramps, making adjustments of local bus stops and curbs, and include modifications for people with visual impairments).

“Transportation is one of the biggest obstacles for people with disabilities in El Salvador,” Martinez said.

The current system is a socially constructed form of discrimination. For example a person who uses a wheelchair, who cannot afford their own vehicle or who does not have someone who can assist them to get on and off the bus, faces obstacles that sometimes leave them confined to their home or neighborhood. In a city without ramps or enforced regulations to keep sidewalks clear from obstructions (such as parked cars) travel becomes an obstacle course. Without being able to travel freely in the city, persons with disabilities are then forced to face another level of instututional barriers.

If transportation is nearly impossible, think about how difficult it would be to find a job, go to a doctor’s appointment, or even complete daily tasks such as grocery shopping or taking your children to school.

This was only the Commission’s first meeting with the Mayor’s office. Martinez and his associates are hopeful that in the coming weeks there will be a commitment from Quijano to make the new transportation system completely accessible for persons with disabilities. Alberto Monterrosa, assistant manager of Municipal Public Participation office, and David Reyes, a member of the Legislative Assembly who himself uses a wheelchair, have committed to help push the accessibility policy through.

This past week the entire Red de Sobrevivientes staff and board of directors gathered for three days to review and finalize the 2010 Annual Plan and the Strategic Plan for the next five years. Sounds exciting, right? Well, what if I were to mention that the annual retreat was held at a great little place on the coast? It was the perfect balance between work and fun. Something Salvadorans have mastered. Meetings were held the majority of the day and provided a space for open dialogue and honest feedback. It’s a rare moment when the entire staff and the board of directors have the opportunity to sit in the same room together, let alone for three days. Because the Network is newly independent, they are still finding their balance and learning to stand on their own. Ahmed Martinez, from the Survivor Corps office in DC, was able to join the group for the first two days of meetings. His presence was definitely appreciated as his opinion and guidance are greatly respected by the team. With hopes of expanding their services to include a wider array of persons with disabilities (other than amputees), there was a lot of discussion about how to expand services while not losing the foundations of the peer support methodology. The outreach workers, because they are the ones in the field everyday working side-by-side with survivors, had a powerful voice. It was great to see that through all the discussions about budgets, policies, proposed projects and programming outputs, no one sitting around the table lost sight of why they were there…for the survivors and the persons with disabilities that need their support.

This past week the entire Red de Sobrevivientes staff and board of directors gathered for three days to review and finalize the 2010 Annual Plan and the Strategic Plan for the next five years. Sounds exciting, right? Well, what if I were to mention that the annual retreat was held at a great little place on the coast? It was the perfect balance between work and fun. Something Salvadorans have mastered. Meetings were held the majority of the day and provided a space for open dialogue and honest feedback. It’s a rare moment when the entire staff and the board of directors have the opportunity to sit in the same room together, let alone for three days.

Because the Network is newly independent, they are still finding their balance and learning to stand on their own. Ahmed Martinez, from the Survivor Corps office in DC, was able to join the group for the first two days of meetings. His presence was definitely appreciated as his opinion and guidance are greatly respected by the team.

With hopes of expanding their services to include a wider array of persons with disabilities (other than amputees), there was a lot of discussion about how to expand services while not losing the foundations of the peer support methodology. The outreach workers, because they are the ones in the field everyday working side-by-side with survivors, had a powerful voice. It was great to see that through all the discussions about budgets, policies, proposed projects and programming outputs, no one sitting around the table lost sight of why they were there…for the survivors and the persons with disabilities that need their support.

José Gonzalo

Jose Gonzalo

José Gonzalo is a Survivor. His wife and four children look up to him and he takes tremendous pride in the work he does to provide for them. I met José and his youngest daughter last week on a visit to the department of Cabañas. The family lives in the city of Sesuntepeque and has dreams of operating a neighborhood tienda (store) out of their home.

Armando Hernández, an Outreach Worker for the Survivor Network, said that because Cabañas is the most impoverished department in El Salvador, the economic conditions make it extremely difficult for people there to make a living.

During the summer months José and his son work in agriculture, but four months out of the year (during the rainy season) there is not much work. The absence of a consistent flow of income is difficult for the family of six. José believes the modest profits from a family store would provide them with the extra support they need.

Last year he opened a small tienda where he sold basic food staples and other household items. The shop was located in the center of town and initially was doing very well. But after an escalation of crime in the area, and a murder that occurred just outside the storefront, José was forced to close the shop because of a lack of clientele.

José has been involved with the Survivor Network in Cabañas for just over a year. He spends time with his Outreach Worker, Armando, and has attended a series of workshops about small-business management. Armando has recommended José as a candidate for the Economic Opportunity Program at the Survivor Network. If his application is approved, José will be eligible for economic assistance (in the form of supplies and materials).

Outreach Worker, Armando, and the Director of the OE Program, Alexis, interview Jose at the location of his new store

“This is my second chance,” José said.

He has already begun construction on the tienda and has purchased a refrigerator to store cold goods. His home is located in a safe neighborhood, and because it’s along one of the major roads leading into town, José is confident there will be a steady flow of customers.

The Survivor Network advisory committee will meet in the next few weeks to review José’s case and determine his need and eligibility for assistance.

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