More than 500 secondary education students from Mieres have participated in the “Put yourself in their place” campaign. This is a program that seeks to prevent accidents and bad habits, while promoting awareness among young people about the reality of physical disability “from a friendly point of view.” Talks and adapted sports are the activities that form the backbone of the initiative.
After passing through the Turón institute and the Sánchez Lastra, the campaign closes today at the Bernaldo de Quirós. Yesterday the center received the members of the “Cosa Nuesa” association, who are in charge of developing the campaign: “The response of the kids is unbeatable. They understand the difficulties of the disabled and at the same time entertain themselves”, says Mario Pandiella who, together with his brothers Ladi and Carlos, is in charge of immersing the students in a close but often misunderstood world.
The students endorse the perception of the monitors. This was endorsed yesterday by Noa Amed. “The activities are fun and with a little practice you get the point.” For this young man “the important thing is that everyone can play sports. Difficulties can always be overcome. He also understands that empathy is essential. “We have to make life easier for those who suffer from problems that cause certain limitations.”
The campaign is divided into two parts. The first tries to prevent accidents. Special incidence is made in traffic accidents, but also in domestic, work or sports accidents. It should be noted that Spain has more people disabled due to domestic and leisure accidents than due to traffic accidents. According to 2019 data, of the 3.8 million dependents in Spain, a total of 86,000 people have a disability caused by domestic or leisure accidents, a figure higher than those disabled due to traffic accidents, approximately 66,000 people, as established a study of the University of Barcelona.
The second front of the program that culminates today in Mieres consists of the organization of four adapted sports workshops. The students, sitting in wheelchairs, try activities such as basketball, slalom, badminton and handcycling. “In this way they can see for themselves the problems and difficulties that a disability poses when carrying out any activity”, highlight those responsible for the initiative.
“Students can better understand what disabled people feel when facing an environment that is not the usual one”, explains the Councilor for Education, Belén Alonso, who yesterday visited the IES Bernaldo de Quirós: “We seek to raise awareness about behaviors, so as not to hinder disabled people, making them understand that they are at a clear disadvantage, while generating feelings of empathy”, says Alonso. The Mieres government perceives that the program has met its objectives. “We are very satisfied with the response from both students and teachers.”
Adapted sports
Adapted sport is experiencing notable growth in Spain. The most widespread activities are hockey, basketball, handball, tennis and soccer or football. All of them already have a long history. Wheelchair basketball, for example, was created in 1946 by former basketball players from the United States, who, after suffering various injuries during World War II, wanted to develop a new way of practicing such an athletic sport in a group. but with its own limitations.
The “Put yourself in his place” campaign seeks to achieve “better citizens”. The aim is to raise awareness among the younger population, for example, about the need to respect the parking spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility, clearly and exhaustively informing them of the serious difficulties and difficulties to which these people are subjected to carry out their activity. daily, since they cannot park their vehicles near their homes, jobs or administrative centers where they go to carry out procedures.
