Martin Bilfinger is a Shop Assistant at Wälderhaus Hotel in Hamburg Germany who had a disability because of an accident when he was born. He was born in Brazil and lived there for 30 years. He went on to study and became an Electrotechnics by profession in which he worked 6 years in Brazil before moving to Germany. He arrived in Germany and was jobless for approximately 12 years as he searched for a job. When he got an opportunity to work it was usually for a short period of about one year which meant he was constantly looking for a job each year. It was also quite a struggle for him to acquire a job because his Brazilian Electrotechnical diploma was not recognized in Germany. Martin’s mother was German therefore it was easier for him to integrate into the society concerning language because his mother always spoke to him in German. In school he was taught Portuguese and German.
Martins’ disability began when he was born. He was not properly positioned in the uterus which meant the doctors had to carefully pull him out. In the verge of the process an accident happened and led to his speech being affected and the disability to some parts of his hands. Being a man living with a disability in Brazil it meant that Martin could only depend on family and friends for support because he could not find a job. The diploma that Martin had in Brazil could not help him in his own home country. Brazil does not offer social benefits to persons with disabilities which thereby makes it hard for persons such as Martin to survive without family support. Martin had a foundation in computers and then later he improved his skills by himself before he proceeded to Germany and acquired an extra diploma.
At the age of 62 Martin is very proud of his achievements but most especially his fitness. He is doing a lot of sports that keep him healthy and fit which includes going to a fitness training studio 3 times a week. His goal is to be able to use his body for as long as possible hence the challenge to exercise his body regularly. He has lived for 29 years in an apartment on the 3rd floor without an elevator and he takes the pleasure of taking the stairs daily ever since 1992. Martin cycles and at the beginning he was cycling about 6000 kilometers per year which also helps keep him regularly fit.
In terms of discrimination, he believes that it is how you present yourself that determines how people treat you. This has worked for him and that is how he makes good relationships and is also treated with great respect. In Brazil this was, however, different for Martin. There is a high stigma, and they believe if you have a disability, you cannot achieve anything. This part felt unfair for Martin as he felt that he qualified for certain positions because he studied like any other person but still would not be granted any employment. In a household of 5, Martin was the first to make a step to come to Germany. Later, 2 of his siblings moved to Cologne and Berlin respectively.
Martin was motivated to work and study because he wanted to be independent financially and as well be able to take care of himself without much assistance from the family or anyone else. He would like to encourage people out there who may be living with a disability to just try something. He emphasizes on trying again and again until something works.