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THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN SIGHT: THE STORY OF SIPAN

An ordinary person, living a less than ordinary life

Story by UNDP Eurasia March 3rd, 2017

Today we are taking you on a journey to Armenia to meet Sipan, an ordinary person living a less than ordinary life.

Visually impaired since the age of 4, Sipan is now a disability rights activist, fighting for his community’s rights. Married to Vanuhi, Sipan lives with his parents and his newborn child in a one bedroom apartment.

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“My parents cared for me very well, but sometimes they protected me too much. It limited me from becoming independent. I don’t blame them - I know it’s part of our culture. There was no place for my parents to go and learn about issues I was facing as a child.

“I regret the years spent depending solely on my parents. But I also realize that it was the best they could offer me at the time.”

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“The special school I attended as I was growing up provided me with quality education. But it did not equip me with necessary life skills. For much of my adolescence, I felt isolated.”

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“The day I met two American travelers with visual impairments changed my life. They had decided to travel around the world. I thought: If they can do it, why can’t I? slowly started to entertain the idea of living independently. Of course, my parents were alarmed at first.

“But one day, when I was returning home, my mom called and asked me to buy bread from the store. I’d been waiting for a moment like this for a long time. My mom had finally realised that I am capable of doing this on my own.

“That day I put my independence first, ignoring the stereotypes and stigma. New windows opened to me after that: a job, sports, dances and the psychological maturity I needed to start my own family."

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“My journey towards independence started the day I was introduced to the white cane in 2009.

Once I discovered it, I asked my relatives from the U.S. to send me one. Having a cane just dissipated my fear.

Unfortunately, this service is not currently provided by state rehabilitation centers. So the responsibility rests on individuals like me. Today I am a certified coach and I occasionally train others how to use white cane.”

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“Sports and dancing have helped me a lot. I play goalball, which is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with visual impairments. I also skied for 3 years with the help of a trainer. It was very scary at first but gradually I got the hang of it. Now the experience is unbelievable: a constant feeling of freedom, confidence, and strength.

"I am also very fond of Armenian national dances. Having the possibility to dance makes me feel like I’m coming back to my roots. Interestingly, I dance with people who can see. I like my friends at dance classes a lot, but at first they were afraid to socialize with me – they did not know how to. I think they had even more complexes than I did.”

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“Family is very important. My wife and I have had to overcome a lot of obstacles to create our own. And we still have more to conquer.

“Not many parents in Armenia would want to see their daughter married to a person with visual impairments. Most people with disabilities are afraid of creating a family. At the same time, family remains the biggest achievement for a person like me. It has to be nurtured dearly.”

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“I don’t dream about seeing anymore. I used to, but not anymore. It takes up too much time and emotional energy.

“But I do have a dream. Perhaps it’s a bit childish – but I dream of having a tandem bike and going on a countrywide biking trip with my wife, camping, traveling around, living on the road."

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“I work as a coordinator at the National Leadership Institute, which is an NGO working on youth initiatives. We work with and for people with disabilities. We teach people with disabilities independence techniques. We are now fundraising to buy white canes to distribute to people with visual impairments. I also host a show on Radio Menk on the issues faced by my community.

“Work for me is a means of self-expression. Everyday my work helps me overcome psychological barriers, simply by leaving my apartment and joining with the rest of society. My work is an integral part of my bigger mission in life."

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Sipan is a man of mission. When Sipan is not busy playing sports, practicing national Armenian dances, hosting radio shows or teaching people with visual impairments how to use a cane, he is busy raising a family.

“I want to reach a day when I can look back and realise that the efforts I’ve made have not been in vain, that these benefits will be reaped by generations to come. I want to have that feeling of fulfillment."

Judging from the looks of it, that day won't be too far in the future.


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Footnote: Photos: Jodi Hilton / UNDP in Armenia