The Bulgarian Disability Movement succeeded to mediate an agreement among institutions for an accessibility project at Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia – with God’s help and thousand of sacrifices and compromises the miracle happened on October 26 2007. All parties involved, governmental ministries, the mayor and the Bulgarian Church, decided to work together on the national board of the project. This peaceful co-operation will help Bulgaria to see positive changes.

In March 2006, the Psychological Centre for Research elected to take on the nationwide campaign Architectural Accessibility through national and regional initiatives, consultations and projects.

The Architectural Accessibility campaign was initiated in March 2006 with the support and co-operation of the Italian ambassador in Bulgaria Gian Battista Campagnola. It was created in reply to requirements of the European Commission for building accessible architectural environments, with the deadline of December 2006, according to Bulgarian legislation, for making all public buildings in Bulgaria accessible for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

Unfortunately, the deadline of the Territorial Development Act wasn’t kept (although there was a two-years grace period for institutions), and the accessibility projects currently constructed come to just five per cent of what is necessary and do not apply real standards of accessibility.

According to Bulgarian legislation, when accessibility is missing, penalties reach 70 000 leva. When there is a claim submitted to the European Commission, the amount can be even more.

The Psychological Centre for Research together with consultancy from national and international teams – engineers, architects, constructors and social workers – has undertaken an initiative for consultations on a volunteer basis for the status of public buildings in Bulgaria. This includes research and preparation of reports on building accessibility. In reply to the needs of people with disabilities in Bulgaria, not only institutional and administrative buildings have been evaluated, but also buildings of cultural focus like theatres, operas, community centres, schools, medical institutions and clerical centres.

One of the buildings with national significance and a clerical centre for many Bulgarians is Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral. A team of national and international experts has done research on making the cathedral accessible according to the regulations of the Spatial Development Act, its additional decrees, regulation 6, and the Cultural Monuments and Museums Act.

At a meeting of the Holy Synod with all its members present on July 3 2007, a decision for accessibility to the building through a permanent lift attached to the cathedral was taken. It was an act of support of human rights of people with disabilities.

The Psychological Centre for Research took on the project of intense research, design consultation, construction, architectural drafts and building of the equipment that ensures accessibility for people with disabilities to the cathedral.

On October 26, the opening of the first ramp with national significance was celebrated with a ceremony. The building process of the ramp united the efforts of many institutions. People with disabilities in Bulgaria are now given the opportunity to be a part of Bulgarian religious life through the construction of an accessible environment for disabled groups to one of the symbols of Bulgaria – Alexander Nevski Cathedral. People with disabilities in fact die because they are not given proper treatment and the House of the Lord is often their only form of support.

Although there exists national legislation for accessibility rights, the stigma persists – people with disabilities are not a priority. Quite the opposite, often there are clear acts of discrimination: their right of accessibility is still accepted as making cultural monuments “ugly” or unacceptable for “communist” aesthetics. There is still alive a “communist-fascist” understanding that “beauty” is a priority over human rights regulations and technical accessibility devises are not “beautiful”. There is still a need for public attitudes to be changed to accept the values of a democratic society – one where human rights are priority.

Only a few public parties are active in the endeavour to make accessible environments. The Agency of People with Disabilities, it corporate partner Actavis and the people themselves created the miracle at the cathedral – the ramp. This marks a success of the Bulgarian Disability Movement. People with disabilities are ready to fight for their rights. They do not have the power to protect their rights for life, but they will fight for that.

*Dr Diana Indjov is president and executive director of the Psychological Centre for Research, a member of the the Bulgarian Social Lobbyist Organisation and chairperson of the National Council for Integration of People with Disabilities at the Bulgarian Cabinet.