No excuses: Sail spirit Oleg Kolpaschikova

I'm different!

- Hello, Oleg! Is pleased to welcome you on the pages Layfhakera!

- Hello, Anastasia!

- Oleg, tell us about your childhood?

- Born in 1972 in the city of Yekaterinburg, then - Sverdlovsk. Father - lawyer, mother - child's doctor. There is an older sister.

I went to kindergarten, and then studied at an English school. I liked him and was given good language - know him at a decent level.

Seriously fond of hockey. He is playing as a team with future NHL stars - Alexei Yashin and Nikolai Khabibulin. However, progress in the sport did not have enough capacity.

After high school, Dad wanted me to go in the MGIMO. But I went to the SYNC - Sverdlovsk Institute of National Economy. Studied machines and equipment for food production. Now, when I cook on expeditions, can be said to work in the specialty. :)

- graduated from the Institute?

- I almost immediately started to work, and soon dropped out.

- Due to the loss of vision?

- Not. Just gone. Vision lost a little bit later.

- Could you tell about it?

- I was 20 years old. 1993 - during shootouts. The sports complex, which I attended, a mine exploded with clockwork. I turned out to be the closest to the explosion - lost his sight. Well, that is not life.

- In one of your interviews you said: "With the awareness," I'm different "for the blind begins the happy life." As you was a process of awareness?

- It's a long process. To fully take everything, you need more than a decade.

First, pretend that you're just like everyone else. Trying to do everything sighted and jealous of them, angry with the whole world at heart. Internal grievances translate into personal crises.

But then you start to really adapt. You begin to do things blindly and independently as possible. When it turns out in front of you it opens a whole new world. Suddenly, you realize that it is very interesting, there are a lot of beautiful things. You can live in it, to move and, most importantly, to benefit others. That's when you start to feel yourself a happy man.

- What in the home it was given the most difficult?

- Imagine, young man, 20-25 years old, came to the company in the cafe. All young, attractive, there are girls. On a large flat dish served dumplings: small, round, and all the oil. I want to look good, but is also very desirable. And everyone at the table is very interesting, how did you cope with the roll on the plate dumplings... :)

The most difficult thing for the blind in everyday life - the interaction. You all must be placed in its proper place. Sighted that genuinely do not understand: the object moved two centimeters - are you looking for him all day. At first angry, offended, but then you remember - you're in different worlds.

white cane

- Maybe then you should teach people to interact with blind?

- The easiest way to teach blind people to quickly and accurately to give instructions for situations when you need help. After all, very few blind - one in a thousand people. A simple example. The town with a population of 800,000. This means that 800 of the blind live in it. Half of them - the elderly. Remains of 400 people - children and able-bodied citizens. Remove children and adults get 200 blind. Among them, more 10-20% - with co-morbidities. The result - the blind 150, which can actually interact with the outside world. Agree, it is easier to train around them than nearly a million people.

- And yet, let our readers a few tips on how to help if you see on the street a man with a cane or povodyrom?

- First you need to see if he needed help? If the blind out into the street, then he is already quite independent. Should be approached only if you notice that the person was in some kind of a difficult situation: went on the road, or 10 times was on the same site. In this situation, probably, is to approach, touch him hand and sincerely offer assistance. Just do not be offended if the blind will refuse it! Because he can, and lost, but wants to train himself out of the situation.

- Oleg, tell about the public organization "white cane", Which is headed?

- We work for nearly five years, officially registered three years. Presented in Yekaterinburg, Sevastopol, Samara and Moscow. Teach people with disabilities to be independent on sight: move around the city, to go to a normal job, that is, to be in demand on the open market. Our main objective - improving the socio-economic activity of people with disabilities.

In addition, we teach people the most positive attitude toward self and the world. We try to implement inclusion, in various spheres of life. You know, of each Iron talking about disability rights. But if there is a right, it means that there must be duties. We believe that the primary responsibility of the person on whose share fell serious test and he coped with them - motivate, to charge to the active lives of others, especially healthy. It is clear that there is physically hard, but in those 10 minutes, until it hurts, sit down and write an article, speaking somewhere, just talk to someone. His example you sow the seed of creation in the minds of people, which is sure to give results.

- I once wrote about technologies that allow the blind to "see". Most research so far on the level of concepts. Tell me, what gadgets do you use?

- The best gadget in the world for the blind - a white cane! :) Seriously!

There are so many equipment - horseflies do not want to. But any electronics at some point may fail.

The more modern smartphones designed more for entertainment. Therefore, the "professional" blind man uses a cane, and only then telephones and computers.

Gadgets, voice assistants, navigation devices, Ultrasonic cane - it's all great. But only as auxiliary tools. This is not just my opinion. Here in front of me now sitting vice-president of the largest association of the blind in France Marc Ofra. He also believes that the best white cane have not invented anything.

- And how in Yekaterinburg and other cities, the situation with available media for the blind?

- wheelchair important underestimated curbs, ramps, etc., but we do not need much. Do you know what the most important element of an accessible environment for the blind? Clean the streets and cleaning of snow! Yeah, well, when the sound signals are designated pedestrian crossings and approaches to the trains on the platforms, voiced by pressing the buttons in the elevators, but it's not critical.

After all the available media will not live for you! The main thing - it is motivation! If it is, no matter you are in a wheelchair or blind, you all available. Do you work, learn, Kuyosh happiness. If there is no motivation, immediately curbs and snow prevented.

Motivation

- Where is the motivation to draw?

- We need to find his place in life - work, study, family, social activities. It is difficult, because there is an enormous social problem.

- What?

- the person who received a disability, are taught to think, if he had someone that's got to. State social policy is to ensure that a disabled person before you start to live, you need a good pension and barrier-free environment. With screens pours the oil of "Here the government will allocate 85 billion, will launch 62 social projects, that's when you will be comfortable here then zazhivosh and yet sit at home, wait." Many, alas, do so.

Used today and is considered normal, the phrase "to demonstrate social responsibility." Scary, but nobody warps when it is held in place to demonstrate real social work.

The integration of disabled people into society - this is not the organization of excursions to museums and theaters. It is necessary to consider not the number of ramps in the streets and the number of people with disabilities, out in the streets. How many of them have found independence and dignity? Here we are plastered Sochi barrier-free environment, and what? There are many disabled people walking on the streets, if the city does not pass any parasportivny holiday?

I was struck by one incident that occurred in Cuba. There's just something no roads, not to mention the accessible environment. We were in a small provincial town, and for half an hour (!) Past us without saying a word, took the girl with a stick and drove a guy in a wheelchair. People with disabilities take to the streets freely, almost all work in the open market.

I was recently in Israel. There is an organization where people with disabilities are engaged in extreme sports. they yachting, is already 20 years engaged. Moreover, they have a program for the training of disabled persons for military service. And in a rather serious divisions.

Another example - Northern Cyprus, where our expedition is now. The unrecognized republic, where the money is very tight, the population - 300,000 people. In the local community of wheelchair users - 532 members. They themselves, without government assistance, built a rehabilitation center, have 14 hired workers, they all work. We just called them - just 25 people and have arrived. Tomorrow go out to them in the sea.

Here at these guys and it is necessary to draw motivation. You no one should - go out into the world, whether it is useful, that's all.

Sail spirit

- Oleg, if in our conversation came the words "Sea" and "yacht", tell us, what is this "crazy" idea - to go on a tour around the world almost blindly?

- The idea came from Sergei Burlakov. He lives in Taganrog, he has no legs, no hands, but, despite this, he ran prostheses New York Marathon. He hit on the idea to make a tour around the world and was looking for a partner. Found me. We met and started training.

The first training session took place in 2011 in Croatia. We then helped healthy sailor, Master Victor Klokov sport. He now we have to train newcomers.

We are now at the eleventh stage of preparation.

- What is the current route of the expedition?

- Started from Gocek, moved along the Turkish coast: Kas Kas, Antalya, Bozyazı, Taşucu. Then moved to Kyrenia, Karpaz and went to the shores of Israel - Haifa, Tel Aviv. Now again back to Kyrenia.

- The crew of replacement?

- Yes, we have already had several changes: want as many healthy people and people with disabilities tried, got this unforgettable experience.

- What are doing on the shore?

- We provide a variety of activities, inclusive, that is, with the participation of people with disabilities, as well as healthy. For example, in conjunction with the Russian Kyrenia diaspore spend concert. And so almost every city.

- Regarding inclusiveness want to ask a question. How do you feel about the correct classes and training in specialized boarding schools?

- Education should be inclusive and specialized. Someone because of their opportunities from start to finish studying in a correctional school, and those who do not need it, should be able to go in a normal educational institution, when it is ready. Good experience in this sense in France. In the heart of Paris there is a boarding school, where you can just come and learn purely "slepetskim" things, such as Braille.

I have been in many of our correctional schools. There, everything depends on the director. There Exemplary places where perfect repair, the walls almost decorated with gold leaf, but there children are never in a life on their own did not go from the porch to the gate. The children washed, combed, dressed well, but they are completely unprepared for life. And there are leaders who are doing everything to the disciples found his place in life.

Same with the parents. Many call us, the Council, whether to give the child in an inclusive kindergarten. We say: if ready to give. "But whatever it may offend!" - ooh mom and dad. But the meaning of inclusion in this - it is necessary to hurt! He must learn to outgrow their grievances. It is an integral part of education.

Education - this is not where you from morning till night behind the ear scratching, and when faced with something complex and learn on their own, without their parents and teachers, to solve their problems, and then the problem others.

After all, this is normal when the children were playing in a sandbox game, then quarreled, one called the other red, and the other third bespectacled. The child will still say, "You're blind!" - and he should be able to adequately respond to this.

To be able to love another

- Oleg, you have been happily married. How to get acquainted with his wife?

- The story is really interesting. She even described in our Natasha Podunovoy book "Look wider» (Look Wider).

That was in 2002. We were traveling with a friend in a car stopped at a traffic light. He says: "Right at the wheel of a pretty girl." I opened the window, gestured to it, too, rolled down the window and said, "Quickly say the number - is now gathering a" She stammered, dictated his phone. We parted, I called. Then he met and never parted.

Neither I, nor is it before or after so not familiar with. :)

- It is difficult to build a relationship with the opposite sex when you do not see?

- Sometimes. You can not look into his eyes, for example. But rather, it is interesting. You know, when I was blind, I died one function - I can not imagine the ugly girl. I say: "It is all ugly!" "Actually, at all?" - I ask again. "AT ALL!" And the brain still can not draw an ugly image.

But in a relationship that's not it. It is important to be able to love another person. Not "Love yourself and people to reach for you," but just the opposite.

The problem for many people with disabilities is just that they are too fixated on itself. And we must learn to love someone or something in the outside world, then the self-esteem and self-confidence will come.

- Oleg, what do you dream about?

- Now with Mark Ofranom we dream to cross the ocean. We are very encouraged by the idea of ​​the journey of St. Petersburg (Baltic Sea) - St. Pietersburg (Florida, USA).

- Give some parting words to readers Layfhakera.

- No matter how many sit and not Noah that everything around is bad, all around scum, sooner or later all the problems peremelyutsya, peace will blossom again and will have to live well! So does the universe. Therefore, it is better sooner than later. :) Live a whole palette of emotions and Learn to love others!

- Thank you for the interesting conversation, Oleg!

- Thank you for inviting!