Employer prejudice, complex bureaucratic procedures, a lack of flexible working conditions and inaccessible infrastructure are among the key barriers for people with disabilities in Ukraine. Bogdan Kokhan, programme director at “The League of the Strong”, spoke about this on ‘Ukrainian Radio’ on 5 May.
Barriers to employment for people with disabilities
“The League of the Strong” conducted a survey on livelihood needs in wartime conditions in 2025 — involving 1,019 respondents — and was able to identify the key barriers.
The first, and one of the most common, is prejudice on the part of employers. They are often reluctant to hire people with disabilities because they do not understand how to organise the work, what difficulties might arise, and how to resolve them.
The second barrier is a lack of awareness. This applies both to people with disabilities themselves and to their families. Opportunities for employment and training do exist, including many free programmes run by non-governmental organisations, but people are often unaware of them or lack access to this information.
Psychological barriers deserve special mention. They contribute to people with disabilities being less active in their job search, not always believing in their own abilities, or hesitating to enter the labour market.
Another significant issue is the lack of flexible working arrangements. For many people, an adapted schedule or the option to work remotely is crucial. Although remote working has become more common in the wake of the pandemic and amid the war, such opportunities are still insufficient.
And, of course, physical and infrastructural barriers remain. These include inaccessible transport, a lack of barrier-free environments, and power cuts that cause lifts to stop working. For most people, this is an inconvenience, but for someone who uses a wheelchair, it can mean being completely unable to leave the house.
When it comes to social barriers, these are largely linked to employers. They often do not hire people with disabilities due to fears of additional liability, a lack of understanding of how to organise the work properly, and a lack of knowledge of the law — specifically, what rights the individual has and what obligations the business has.
What can be done about these barriers?
To systematically address these barriers, legislation needs to be modernised. In particular, changes are already being developed that provide for the integration of incentives for businesses. For example, the Law ‘On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Right of Persons with Disabilities to Work’ of 15 January 2026 proposes introducing targeted contributions instead of fines.
The idea is that businesses should not simply pay fines, but invest these funds in creating accessible jobs and support programmes. This is because fines today are more likely to discourage than to encourage the employment of people with disabilities.
The state already has relevant programmes, but they need to be expanded and simplified. Currently, around 60% of employers who are aware of them consider these mechanisms to be ineffective.
It is worth mentioning bureaucratic barriers separately. Procedures — for both people with disabilities and employers — remain complex and need to be simplified. This applies, in particular, to the process of registering disability status and reporting requirements for businesses.
One solution could be the digitalisation of these processes. The introduction of user-friendly digital platforms will enable the automation of many procedures and significantly reduce the burden on businesses, which will also encourage employers to be more willing to hire people with disabilities.
When it comes to working conditions, this is not just about recruitment, but also about workplace accessibility — in particular, accessible toilets, access routes to them and general infrastructure.
We are already seeing positive examples — in particular, large supermarket chains are actively employing people with disabilities. This is gradually changing attitudes in society: people are witnessing this and coming to see it as the norm.
Speaking more broadly about what still needs to be done, first and foremost we need to dispel the myths that people with disabilities are a burden on business. Secondly, we need to improve legislation, making it clearer and more supportive.
We live in the same society, and given the war, the number of people with disabilities is growing. Therefore, adapting the environment and the system to these changes is no longer a matter of choice, but a necessity.
New ramps are being installed every day — so why does the problem of physical barriers persist?
Ramps are being installed, but they are often dangerous: too steep, too narrow, or simply unsuitable for use. In other words, accessibility exists in theory, but not in practice.
In Ukraine, there are State Building Regulations (SBRs) that govern exactly how such features should be designed and installed. But the problem is that they are not always followed — sometimes deliberately, sometimes due to a lack of knowledge.
We also see a gap in education: future architects do not receive enough practical knowledge about accessibility.
‘There is currently a huge problem at the state level and at the community level regarding state standards and DBNs, which architectural firms are required to follow when designing, and construction companies must then assemble, manufacture and install these ramps; but, unfortunately, some of them do not adhere to even the most basic rules. They [architects, builders – ed.] graduate with incomplete skills and an incomplete understanding of accessibility requirements, even though they are legally obliged to know, understand and comply with them. Sometimes they deliberately fail to comply, sometimes unconsciously,” commented Bohdan Kokhan on air.
That is precisely why it is important to work on several fronts simultaneously: educating students, enhancing the knowledge of professionals, and collaborating with local authorities. In particular, we help communities put the right solutions into practice.
At the same time, it is important to understand that it is not always possible to install a ramp — particularly in older housing stock. In such cases, there are alternatives: for example, lifts. We are also working to expand access to such solutions for people with disabilities, where such solutions are most effective.