Click here to watch a short video of the event.
Five disabled students were able to participate in the "Let the rink be for everyone!" event with the PTE Support Service, which was made unforgettable by PSN Zrt. - Sports School of Pécs, the Skaters of Pécs "Southern Region" and the volunteers students of PTE ÁOK in the framework of the "Lélekmozgató" programme of the Hungarian Parasport Day. Blind and mobility-impaired participants, as well as a student with partial disability could try their best on the ice, where they had the opportunity to a goal shot (coordinated by hockey players), slalom or even roll (rather glide) in a wheelchair.
Overall, it was a great experience for all of us. Our helpers from the Medical Faculty reported similar experiences, both in terms of the time spent with us and the skating itself. As a blind person, it was difficult to get used to walking on dry ground in skates alone and then balancing on ice, not to mention the fact that we had two helpers per person on the right and left, just to be sure. They were very willing, free and open, which made communication easy.
The same could be said about the Skaters of Pécs, who, as soon as I said I am blind and would like to go around the slalom course, they took me back and forth in a circle, and after the end of the round, when I replied to their question "Would you like to shoot a goal? ", I said "yes" almost without thinking, and they put a hockey stick in my hand, gave me the pucks, set me up in goal position. As I tried to hit and push the puck towards the net, as much as I could, there was always a cheer, whether it went into it or stopped inches from the net, and if I hit it, they went crazy and cheered me for almost half a yard.
It was very uplifting for me, and I didn't feel patronising or forced their reactions at all, although deep down I was amazed that I didn't falls through at all in nearly an hour.
Occasionally, a disabled member of our carriage of five would pop up alongside us, speeding around the course in a wheelchair at breakneck speed.
I felt that the hour I spent on the ice was just enough. It was terribly tiring to balance continuously even with two helpers, but luckily the weather was on our side and neither wind nor rain hindered the participants. However, despite all the difficulties, we had a memorable experience.
In the changing room, there were people who came up to us and asked about our living situation. We were happy to answer, glad that such questions about blindness had been asked and even happier that we had been able to answer them.
I am glad that I could participate in this programme, and I would like to thank the volunteers of the Skating School of Pécs, the Skaters of Pécs and the Faculty of Medicine on behalf of the Support Service for their help and shared experiences.
I hope more events like this will be organised in the future.
- Aurél Kovács, student of Social Work (BA) -