TECNUN students collaborate on the autobiography of a man with paralysis
Engineering students come weekly to ASPACE to help Javier Pascual write his memoirs, handicapped by total paralysis in three of his limbs.
The data of the study on university volunteer activities collected by the Mutua Madrileña Foundation, reveals that 92% of Spanish centers have a department on social action programs or that 90.9% increased in the issue of participants in their social activities, during the 2012/2013 academic year.
A case that reflects this spirit of solidarity, shared by many TECNUN students, is found in the group of young people from campus who go weekly to ASPACE (association Cerebral Palsy) to help Javier Pascual to write his memoirs, handicapped by total paralysis in three of his limbs.
According to the coordinators of project, "he came to us to help him develop his idea of writing an autobiographical book and we were delighted to agree, as it is very interesting to work with him and allows us to observe his perception of the world", explained Mireia Gartzia and Juan Azcarreta.
This student 4th grade student was in charge of writing the first lines on his computer with the preliminary testimonies narrated by Javier. According to his colleague Gartzia, "the book aims to show, through personal experiences or those of acquaintances, how life in a wheelchair can be as interesting as that of many others without disabilities. We believe it is a delicate topic , but at the same time close, since many of us know someone with similar difficulties", recognizes the student of Degree Communications Electronics.
They hope that the initiative will reach many other colleagues at campus, "to spend an enriching afternoon (from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m.) in the best company," says Gartzia, "making us accomplices of Javier's experiences through mutual trust.
Some of the topics covered in the book will deal with the everyday situations faced by a person with a disability and the different roles played by the "caregivers" of these "patients". And, "all this, with the touch of humor that Juan himself adds," the coordinator remarks.