Diego Bomparola
04/20/2021 2:51 AM
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 04/20/2021 2:54 AM
Iván Davidovich
studies multimedia design and became a standard bearer at school.
He has the same interests as many young people his age and this Monday a video of him, with a message for Alberto Fernández, revolutionized the networks.
What motivated his response to the President was one of the many struggles he had to face from the day of his birth, when hypoxia caused
cerebral palsy
that kept him in a wheelchair and forced him to communicate through a device that He drives with his eyes and his name is Tobii Dynavox.
That fight is what many people with disabilities face:
ignorance
.
Fernández, to justify his decision to close schools, said in an interview that "boys" with disabilities "do not understand the dimension of the health problem they face."
"The truth is,
I was disappointed
, because we are fighting for a more inclusive country and these things put us back light years. I hope you can take your time to answer me," said Iván this Monday,
in dialogue with Clarín
.
Not only that, he also considers that the president "should publicly apologize" to all those he offended.
The young man "unfortunately, expected something like this", especially considering that citizens with disabilities
have been left out
at the start of the slow first stage of vaccination against the coronavirus.
From his home, asked why he thinks they were left out, being citizens at risk, Iván, 21, was blunt: "
Isn't the President's phrase enough?
My answer is that."
Of course, if for the Government "these boys do not understand the dimension of the health problem they face," they would not be in a position to complain either.
But
there is one who spoke for all of them
and received numerous messages of thanks and support.
Iván Davidovich thanked the messages of support
"I am one of many who want to be heard. Today
I am their voice
. I received many messages from parents of children with disabilities thanking me," said the unexpected spokesman of the many who cannot speak.
And he continued, surprised: "It is exciting to know that there are many boys like me. The truth is, the viralization was very fast. I found out last, it was everywhere."
Although Iván admitted that "Argentina made a very big advance in terms of inclusion", he made it clear that "obviously
there is a long way
to go before it is total."
The President's previously prominent phrase
was not the only one that upset
people with disabilities.
He also called them "kids with disabilities."
"In a context of great sensitivity, it
should be informed
first of all," the young Davidovich reprimanded the head of state.
As he becomes known on social media and many celebrities spread his open letter to the President,
Iván continues to believe
in a better future.
"I dream many things ... That there are no more political interests ahead of the citizens. I believe that the union
is an engine to move forward
. Until we become aware, we are not going to change the situation," he concluded in his talk with Clarion.
This Monday, Fernández met with the authorities of the National Disability Agency (ANDIS) and received training, in which, of course,
his controversial phrase
was discussed
.
The letter that went viral
This is the phrase that echoed me all my life, until I said enough.
I was silent for a long time
, but now I want to speak to you, Mr. President.
My name is Iván Davidovich, I am 21 years old, a multimedia design student. I have cerebral palsy. I cannot speak, but I am speaking through a device that I operate with my eyes.
Throughout my life, I have always listened minimized my intellectual capacity. But I never imagined
that a president would do it
.
With all due respect, I am in a wheelchair, but it
does not mean that I cannot understand
the serious situation of the country and the world, as you said, that people with different capacities do not understand.
This makes me think that many of us
do not receive the vaccine
because we do not understand the situation that we are going through.
I am a person like any other.
I want to clarify that the correct way to address is 'people with disabilities'. It is not said 'people with different capacities'. We are people with rights.
You should get informed, Alberto
.
Sometimes I dream of a better country, but with these kinds of comments it is difficult for us to imagine. Mr. President: I propose to meet with you to clarify what you said in public and
show you that we are capable
.
DB / DS
Look also
The Down Syndrome Association answered Alberto Fernández with the phrase: "Boys who don't understand"
After the controversy over his phrase, Alberto Fernández conducted a training on disability