The most important is to know that people do not notice your wheelchair (video)
Four years ago, a gas explosion changed the life of Sevak Mkhitaryan who was only 17 then. Not only was the active and restless young man forced to reconcile himself to the loss of both legs, but he had to put up with human attitudes. “People pitied me, they came up to me and offered money. They think that if a person is in a wheelchair, he/she must be pited,” says Sevak Mkhitaryan, “National Center for Technical Safety” SNCO. Prior to his appointment, Sevak had to knock on numerous doors in search of a job. The situation changed in 2012, when he was invited to an interview at the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Then, he attended a three-month training course. It already four years Sevak has been working in a team comprising more than 7 000 people. “The most important is to know that people do not notice your wheelchair so that they will treat you as their equal.” Now he recalls that the beginning was very difficult not only for him, but also for the staff. Today, they do not pay any attention to his wheelchair. Disability does not prevent Sevak from doing sports; he has participated in various international tournaments. Everything started when a basketball team of Pyunik Union of Disabled People was formed. “Seeing these guys, I understood that life continues and started to train. I participated in the 2011 Disabled Sailing World Championships in London, later I took part in table tennis competitions. Sevak got acquainted with his future wife in Pyunik. She was teaching English on a voluntary basis. “My wife accepted me the way I am. She saw that I do not have problems and I am able to overcome all difficulties on my way. Now I have 2 sons who bring the sunshine into my life,” said. Then he showed the photos of his sons, aged 6 and 3, and added that he could not imagine what might become of him but for that gas blast.
