From a lack of ramps to high transportation costs, life in Tirana for people with disabilities remains challenging. But a pilot project implemented by the “Së Bashku” Foundation, with support from UNDP and funding from the Swiss government, has brought about a significant change in the lives of some citizens through personal assistants in 10 months.
For Kristiana Lee, a disabled woman, moving independently in Tirana is a constant ordeal unless accompanied by family members. Poor infrastructure, a lack of ramps, and dealing with stairs are daily struggles for her.
"The two times I've tried to go out alone, I've been forced to walk in the road of cars, a huge risk for me," she says.
Kristiana is employed and the mother of a son. Her husband helps her take care of him, so he cannot accompany her everywhere. Going to and from work is the biggest hassle for Kristiana, who says that she often travels by taxi, and this takes up a significant portion of her salary.
The same situation occurs for Ervisa Kuka, a visually impaired girl, who does not fully enjoy independence in movement due to the high cost of taxi transportation.
She says that going to and from work is stressful for her because taxi service is expensive.
"I take a taxi when I have the financial means, but it still gets bad before my work, the parking lot is full, the taxi driver doesn't stop where I want and I have to ask for help again," Ervisa says.
A helper who is not a family member
The UN joint pilot project “Leave No One Behind” gave Kristiana, Ervisa and several others the opportunity to have personal, non-family support for the first time. This translates into true independence and a more dignified life.
Going to work, institutions, or the bank became easier with personal assistance for Kristiana, who appreciates the fact that with an assistant her daily life is not dictated by her family.
"The most valuable part is that you give command to your life, you have your independence, which unfortunately I have limited physically," Kristiana shared her experience with her assistant, Ervin.
For Ervisa, the personal assistant represents more than a convenience or practical help – it is a source of peace of mind and confidence.
"Knowing that someone is waiting outside the door to accompany you to work translates into quality of life, well-being, and helps me live a dignified life," Ervisa said.
According to Suela Lala, director of the "Together" Foundation, personal assistance is essential to building sustainable lives for people with disabilities.
It could be a solution for parents of children with disabilities, who are tormented by the question of what will happen to their children when they are no longer around.
"Those who have elderly parents, or don't have much [family] support, are probably more isolated in society, they're not here among us," Lala said.
Albanian law recognizes this service, but the low fees do not make it sustainable.
"This does not allow for someone to actually employ someone in the open labor market and actually have the benefits of personal assistance in order to carry out daily activities," Suela explained.
Entela Lako from UNDP emphasized that the comprehensive approach followed by the project can serve as a model for public policies.
“The project helps to make this problem more visible, to stimulate discussion, analysis and to bring concrete models,” Entela expressed.
The law exists, but implementation is lacking.
Xhilda Papajani, representative of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, admitted during a meeting with the community that Albania has not yet fulfilled the commitments arising from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
According to her, the reforms required by the EU integration process cannot continue if the personal assistant service is not provided.
“This is a key service for deinstitutionalization,” explained Xhilda, who said that the personal assistant will initially be made available to children and young people with disabilities.
The position of personal assistant aims to allow people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes, without the constant support of their parents.
Mimoza Bendo, a mother of a son with autism, participated in the pilot project as a personal assistant for a woman with visual impairment. She said it was the first time her care extended beyond the family.
"The beginning wasn't easy, but today we are two good friends," says Mimoza, who had to learn other aspects of caregiving, despite having taken care of her son for 15 years.
The flexible hours and insurance coverage made the job affordable for her. She says a project like this should be permanent.
"Disability doesn't last 10 months. It's forever, so service must be continuous," she points out.
Afërdita Seiti, mother of Erjona, a girl with intellectual and mobility disabilities, and also an activist for the rights of people with disabilities, confessed that for years, she and her husband have worked with sacrifices to ensure that their daughter does not lack the proper support.
However, she emphasized that nothing can replace therapy and professional help.
Erjona, thanks to her personal assistant, regained her routine. "She would get up on her own, open the door when the assistant came, go out for coffee, for activities. She was happier, more active," Aphrodite says.
The Albanian law (93/2014 “On the inclusion and accessibility of persons with disabilities”) provides that persons with disabilities can have access to personal assistance to live independently. However, implementation has been partial.
Personal assistant payments are low compared to needs – from 8 to 000 lek – and years of service are not recognized for most categories.
Xhilda Papajani, from the Ministry of Health, admitted that the current insurance system is deficient in this area: “Working years are only recognized for tetraplegic and paraplegic persons.”
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Erisa Kryeziu has completed higher studies in Journalism and Communication and Master of Science in Public Relations at the University of Tirana. She has been a journalist and project manager at Citizens.al for five years, where she reports on social issues and human rights, especially on issues of rights at work, in education, gender equality, marginalized groups, people with disabilities such as and for environmental issues. At the same time, she works as a project coordinator with a focus on youth and media education. User of new reporting techniques such as "Mobile Journalism" and citizen engagement tools in reporting (ECR-Engage Citizens Journalism).
