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[title: Internet Society - 20 years]
The fall of the Soviet Union brought with it hard times for blind and visually impaired people across Armenia.
The support systems they had long relied on were no longer in place.
[Piano Music begins][Sound of keys]
[Squeaky door]
This is the cultural house for the blind in Yerevan.
[sound of curtain]
The piano hall, theater, and many other rooms used to be full of people.
Now most are either rented or empty.
[accordion music]
Yura is the director of the Cultural House for Blind People.
He lost his vision when he was 21,
and knows how difficult it is to make opportunities for yourself.
[orchestral music]
Shortly after Armenia became independent Internet access became available.
The Internet made Yura feel like he was part of the world again.
Yura believes everyone should know this feeling.
[woman contralto singing]
[Yura speaking Armenian]
[Voiceover] "God, I ask you, listen to my words.
Our ancestors said: "It is better to be blind in our eyes than in our mind." "
Yura knows 2500 texts from memory.
He's an international master of chess,
and can play up to 40 people at once
from memory alone.
[piano music]
Albert and Yura have been friends for 37 years.
Albert is the author of over 100 works of literary and historical studies,
mainly devoted to little known pages of Armenian literature.
[piano music continues]
Albert started building schools and hospitals in 1968.
He believes that disability shouldn't be a barrier to helping others.
Like Yura he believes the Internet has opened up new opportunities for him.
He now uses it for his research in correcting inaccuracies in Armenian history.
[orchestral music]
The Internet enables people to be who they choose,
to develop for themselves, and as a part of their community.
[music ends]
According to the WHO, there are 1 billion disabled people in the world.
80% of disabled people live in developing countries.
The Internet Society believes that the Internet enables everyone to be a part of society,
if the appropriate tools are available.
[piano music]
Thanks to the Internet Society, the Cultural House will now have Internet access,
software for blind and visually-impaired people, and
one less room will stand empty.
[piano music continues] [title: Internet Society - 20 Years]
>> Albert: My voice counts!
[title: copyright James Morgan for the Internet Society]