Fileta Nersisyan says that she’s lately experienced a string of successes.

She’s an energetic and friendly woman who is a professional hairdresser, but she has a wide-range of work experience and preferences.

“When I lived in Alaverdi I worked as a hairdresser for a while and then moved on. I worked for the forestry service and even tried my hand at watch repair. I also have a talent for painting. I really love art,” says Fileta.

She sold her house in Alaverdi and moved to Vanadzor, where she went looking for a job at the employment center.

“You can’t imagine how surprised I was when they called. I wondered what type of work they were offering.”

Fileta now works at the Vanadzor Armenian Legal Defense Center as a librarian.

She drives to work in her specially equipped car. With twenty years behind the wheel, Fileta is an experienced driver.

“The only obstacle I had to overcome at work was reaching the upper shelves. Soon after I started working there my employer constructed a special ladder for me to use. Now, even the highest shelves are accessible.”

Fileta says that women with disabilities have a tougher time finding work than others. Many such women with professional degrees can’t find suitable work in their fields and state programs aren’t all that effective.

“Employers just don’t realize that people with disabilities can be productive employees with the same responsibilities as other workers. This discriminatory approach is a sad product of bygone days. It has to be overcome,” says Fileta.

She sees signs of positive change in society regarding the disabled and notes that information targeted to the public on the issue must be constant. She stresses that the public must be made aware that those with disabilities have rights and demands like others.

“Now that I have a job I want to grow and attain some goals in life. I’m even thinking of one day opening a center that will deal with employment issues of the disabled. In my opinion, having a job is the number one prerequisite for anyone wishing to establish themselves in life. It doesn’t matter if the person has disabilities or not.”

Before ending our conversation, Fileta shared another of her life successes with me. She’s recently started a family.