Life is for everyone

Time stood still at the beginning of January 2004. It was around 1.20pm. Elsa Ramos doesn’t recall exactly what happened. She was going to have lunch with her family when a train slammed into her car, right outside her house in Luz de Tavira. As a result, she became paraplegic at the age of 27.

Before the accident, Elsa had worked in photography for almost seven years – a passion that remains with her today

“As far back as I can remember, I always loved photography. I had my first camera at the age of 12, a 123 of cassettes. I did a course at the IPJ (Portuguese Youth Institute), and started work. I did studio work, looked after clients, and documented many events”, she says.

After the tragedy, she spent three years on sick leave, having physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatments.

“My boss always told me that he still wanted me to continue working. But when it was time for me to return to work, he said he didn’t want to pay for building works which would be needed”, in other words, he wasn’t prepared to adapt the workplace to meet Elsa’s needs now that she was in a wheelchair.

“He just wasn’t prepared to do it. He told me that if I wanted to return to work, I had to cope with things the way they were”, she laments.

“Social security would have paid for the building alterations, and he would have been eligible for certain benefits”. Even so, prejudice spoke far louder.

One day, a doctor from the Centro de Reabilitação do Sul, in São Brás de Alportel, told her about the Salvador Association, and the «Quality of Life» Project.

“To start with, I was doubtful”, she confesses. But spurred on by her doctor, she realised it was a good idea, and sent in her application.

The idea was to have a digital photography studio at home and to regain her financial independence, which had up until now been denied. She already knew what she needed. The equipment would cost around €4.000 euros. She put in her application, and ended up winning!

Six months after receiving all her equipment, Elsa has photographed weddings, christenings and social events - work she continues to do with great enjoyment and professionalism.

These days, the biggest obstacles are the steps of some of the churches, but with help she manages to overcome such difficulties.

In her opinion, the largest problems are in day-to-day life. Accessibility continues to be a huge issue in the majority of the Algarve’s towns. “When people are walking, they don’t notice how difficult it can be for someone in a wheelchair, as most streets are uneven, full of holes, and cars park badly obstructing the pavements”, she explains.

Elsa Ramos, five years on from her accident, has no intention whatsoever of giving up. She is currently doing a multimedia course at the «Existir» association in Loulé, which is going very well, and which, she believes, will be a huge asset to her professional career.

For 2009, the «Quality of Life» Project has a fund of €50.000 euros which will be distributed to one or more candidates. The Jury (made up of a doctor, psychologist and one member of the association) will decide who benefits.

The money is available for paraplegics, tetraplegics or physically handicapped people who are permanently wheelchair-bound. Candidates can ask for any type of support - explaining the reasons why they need help for their personal project.

Salvador Mendes de Almeida, president of the Salvador Association, explains the reasons that led the association to set up this initiative.

“We are constantly receiving requests for financial help, which is entirely normal, because these families face difficulties. Caring for a disabled member of the family can be very costly. It’s not the association’s policy to ignore requests, and for this reason, we felt it necessary to create an application process which would enable us, in an organised way, to analyse them, and distribute funds, in a fair way, whilst keeping in mind on the one hand, the needs of these people, but at the same time, as a motivation for change”, he concludes.