In April 2020, the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a series of public service announcements (PSAs) to support people with disabilities to advocate for equal rights in Georgia. The video below features Tinatin Revazashvili, a young woman wheelchair user. By sharing their experiences at a time of increased solidarity in response to COVID-19, these stories seek to raise awareness about barriers faced by people with a diversity of disabilities in Georgia in order to build a more inclusive and accessible society.
This video from the PSA series is available below with a transcript in English. The transcript has been edited for clarity.
[Transcript begins]
My name is Tinatin and I love travelling and also overcoming challenges. Georgia is under lockdown and quarantine. Public transport has also been suspended. Nevertheless, active public transport does not make any difference for many of our citizens, as they are unable to access it. Upon my request, an adapted public bus has been assigned to my neighborhood, however, such precedent still remains as a rare case. After leaving isolation and quarantine, we shall not forget a lot of other people who live their whole lives in isolation because our environment is not adapted. Please, after you leave isolation, have more consideration toward understanding your role in ensuring a more accessible environment.
[Transcript ends]