In the early years of post-communism, Albania went through political and economic challenges of such proportions that pushing for the rights of people with disabilities was unthinkable. However, it was not unthinkable for Bardhylka Kospiri.  As a leader of the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF), she has been the face of the disabilities rights’ movement for the last 15 years. 

With an engineering and architecture degree from Tsinghua University in Beijing, Kospiri practiced her profession for 25 years until a serious illness forced her into a wheelchair.  Challenging all social and cultural stigmas, she chose to fight for the rights of persons with disabilities, a fight which led to a transformation of social perceptions and awareness, as well as political access for people with disabilities across the country.  As she said recently during a conversation with IRI (PDF), “Only through work, I would forget about the isolation and try not to pay attention to the progression disease.”

In the past 15 years, as one of the leaders of a strong and dedicated team of ADRF members, Kospiri and her organization’s intensive lobbying and advocacy efforts have improved the country’s electoral code − providing voting access for people with disabilities − and helped pass legislation to include services for the disabled in local government budgets.  She was also a leading contributor in pushing the Albanian government to ratify the Convention of Human Rights for People with Disabilities, which Prime Minister Sali Berisha signed in December 2009. 

IRI started working with ADRF and Kospiri in 2006 and has supported their advocacy efforts.  In a recent conversation with IRI staff about her work, Kospiri thanked IRI by saying, “IRI’s support in my work has in all these past years been very much needed and fruitful.” 

According to many other Albanian disabilities advocates, Kospiri’s efforts over the years have changed the public’s perception towards people with disabilities to such a degree that even the official and informal language used to describe them has changed. 

Kospiri’s contributions have been recognized domestically and internationally.  On International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month in March 2010, the U.S. Ambassador to Albania John Withers presented Kospiri with the Woman of Courage Award.  Ambassador Withers spoke about her vital contribution as a human-rights activist and advocate for Albanians with disabilities.  More than 100 people participated in the ceremony, including members of parliament, civil society leaders, government officials, as well as representatives from international organizations and the media. 

Her words grasp the strength of character this women has and her strong relationship with the cause she has devoted her life to: “I wouldn’t trade the working mornings at the offices of the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation for anything in the world.”

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