Last January we went to the castle of Ruby to attend a lecture given by a man in a wheelchair called Jaume Torres.

Jaume had a motorbike accident about ten years ago. He was going at a very high speed in Barcelona when he crashed into another car.

As a consequence of that accident, Jaume was in a horrible situation. He told us that he had to be in a cinetic bed (a bed that is moving all the time)for two months. Then, he had to make a lot of exercise to keep fit.

The lower part of his body is paralysed. That means that he will be chairbound for ever.

Now he has to ask for help for things that before he could make without any difficulty. He feels guilty for what has happened to him because now he has to depend on everybody and he feels like a heavy burden for his family (I would not like to be in his place).

He thought that it was a nightmare, that in a moment he was going to wake up. But it was true, it was happening to him.

When you are alright and you see someone else in a wheelchair, or suffering from blindness or deafness, you believe that it will never happen to you, that it is impossible; but the truth is that it could happen you.

Jaume told us that with the accident he also lost his dignity because now he cannot go to the toilet like a normal person. He has to use a bag tied under his trousers and when the bag is filled then he empties it or changes it. Women have to use a plumb.

He commented us that sex was much more difficult for men than for women. Women can have children without any problem, while men have more impediments.

We could also watch some videos in which other boys talked about their experience in a wheelchair, and their parents and friends talked about the difficulties they have to overcome this situation.

The parents of people with disabilities said that they have to face different problems: They have to encourage their children, dedicate more time to them, don't be sad because that could affect them; they also have to put up with their abrupt changes of humour.

Jaume said that after an accident you realise who your friends are (and who are not).

Now Jaume Torres tries to have a normal life. He works in the Guttmann Institute, giving lectures to young people like ourselves.

I admit that this lecture helped me a lot. I even changed my way of thinking. I believe that this lecture could suit more than one of those boys I know well, who believe they are so smart and only wear a helmet when they see a policeman.

This is the website of the Institut Guttmann in Barcelona:
http://www.guttmann.com/defaulti.htm

Sara Garrido

Rubí, February 2001