A year ago his greatest dream was to publish his own works. Today, Taras is a published writer who presented his book, “The Mystery of Orion”, to the citizens of Ivano‑Frankivsk on August 13 and he hopes to one day see his story on a theater stage or a cinematic screen.
Getting out of the house for a simple walk used to be a real challenge: uneven cobblestones, no ramps, and public transportation felt like a synonym for the word “barrier”. Taras recalls his high school years and communication with peers like this: “Sometimes it felt like I was climbing a wall, only to constantly slide back down.” Today, Taras is a first-year sociology student at Kherson State University and serves as one of the accessibility advisors to the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.
Read the story of a young man who, despite daily challenges, keeps moving toward his dreams and writing his own path—without letting illness hold the pen—in this GLUZD feature.
Struggling with every step
Taras Danyltsiv is a young man who, in addition to normal life challenges, battles cerebral palsy (CP) every single day. His mother, Tetiana, recounts that the first six months of his life were relatively calm – neither the parents nor the doctors understood what was wrong. And then one day, everything changed.
“I can’t recall exactly which day it was, but I clearly remember that I had the desire to do something, to fight and in no way to accept this fate. We explored every possible avenue and did everything within our power,” says Ms. Tetiana.
After the diagnosis, the family traveled to a rehabilitation center in Kyiv. Life became a cycle: hospital, home, sanatorium, rehab, modern medical trials – and then again, hospital, home, massages, search for treatments…
Cerebral palsy is a condition that makes it hard for a child to control movements, maintain balance, and posture. It arises from developmental brain issues or damage to the central nervous system. CP doesn’t worsen with age but symptoms can change: some need constant help, others can walk with support or even independently. Without treatment and rehab, muscles weaken. Intellectual development is also crucial—many CP‑affected children struggle with speech, memory and learning.
Taras’s case, according to specialists, is complicated. The family has made titanic efforts so he could live fully. Tetiana recalls the hardest part was giving your all and seeing no results – it was emotionally crushing, with many nights spent crying but never once did she think of giving up.
Friends, relatives, doctors and volunteers became their support along their way.
“It was probably all God’s help and support, because people always help and most importantly they instill faith, hope and support so you don’t lose heart. The very first doctors who treated us always said: “Don’t worry, you’re investing everything now and the results will definitely come – it just takes time.”
Taras had rehab three times a year, consistently. Every year he undergoes treatment in Ivano‑Frankivsk. Earlier, treatment varied and the family visited many rehab centers across Ukraine. Taras recalls how much he enjoyed those trips: to Crimea, Truskavets, Kyiv, Odesa – and they returned annually when possible. He dreams of walking in the Ukrainian Carpathians and conquering one of the peaks. It’s tough now but Taras is sure: one day he will.
They celebrated the smallest achievements: moving a finger, raising his head, speaking a word. These were real triumphs, thanks to rehabilitation. The biggest victory for Tetiana is that her son retained a clear mind and she views his bright gaze and love of music as her source of energy since childhood.
“When music played, he was enchanted by it, his eyes immediately became bright, happy, so gentle.”
Growing up: From schoolyard games to disease awareness
Taras says his mother was always selfless and his greatest support and muse. He owes everything to her. After his parents’ divorce, and later his father’s death, his mother and older brother Serhii are his whole family. He recalls childhood differently from most.
Joy was in trips, difficulty was being confined indoors. That’s why he dislikes winter and rainy weather – they make him feel trapped at home. As a child, Taras didn’t feel “other.” Through 5th grade, he went to school with classmates – playing, having fun and not feeling different. But adolescence was a turning point. From age 10, Taras studied under an individual schedule, meaning teachers visited him at home. This eased physical strain because he didn’t have to travel to school but he lost opportunities to communicate with peers.
“There were periods when I couldn’t talk to anyone. You can’t discuss everything with parents. And honestly, the worst was realizing after age 15 that I’m ill and don’t have as many opportunities as others. You must understand that, somewhere you want to find yourself but it doesn’t work out… In childhood, I didn’t feel like that. And suddenly that heavy wall appeared in my consciousness… That was probably one of the toughest periods – accepting it. And then circumstances changed and I began spending more time at home. I didn’t tell my mother – I didn’t want to upset her – but I felt like I wasn’t in the right place, didn’t know what to do next. And it was very scary. But probably after that, the desire to fight appeared,” shares Taras.
Writing as a way to live fully
He balanced physical limitations in communication and adventure with films and books. The first book he read was a collection of ballads about Robin Hood. Those stories sparked the desire to change life and make it fairer. That’s how Taras began writing. In his texts, characters live what he couldn’t yet. He loves happy endings, believing everyone deserves one. He created his own for a historical Ukrainian figure:
“I was inspired by “The Tale of Ihor’s Campaign” – a tragic ballad. I wrote an alternate plot where Ihor continues his adventures on horseback. I put it into verse, and I truly enjoyed the creative process. I was around 15–16 then; now at 25, I’m still in love with writing.”
Taras actively shares his creativity via Instagram and Facebook. He completed video editing and learned AI tools. He creates photo and video visualizations for his stories and designed and generated his own cover for “The Mystery of Orion”. Every evening, he hosts live sessions where he discusses his creative plans and life path with followers.
Speaking to GLUZD’s readers, he explained his book “The Mystery of Orion” is about him, his mother, and older brother, and everyone who needs support and motivation to believe in themselves. As the author says: “My characters are not perfect but they are real.”
The protagonist is Prince Robin – a young dreamer who, defying the royal traditions of Orion, embarks on a journey to fulfill his dream and together with his friends test the legend of Pangaea – “a land that preserves secrets of the past and keys to the future”.
Along the way, the heroes explore magical kingdoms full of mysteries, bright adventures and interesting people. Robin, Aurora and Jack face many trials. They support each other, uncover new worlds’ secrets, repel enemies and continue their journey with youthful daring. Ultimately, they discover something greater than a magical continent: family, love, faithful friends, and their destined role in the kingdom of Orion.
The author emphasizes these stories aim to inspire readers: anyone can achieve their goals together with friends and effort.
This was meant to be a story about reserved but brave Robin. I wrote it in a few months, then realized Robin needed support and every character required motivation. Jack is a wise, logical friend preparing for everything and watching over Robin.
Aurora is gentle, pleasant girl and a scientist who inspires Robin. In this story, I’m Robin, Aurora – my inspiration and strength – is my mother who has supported me for years. And Jack is my close friend and older brother Serhii. Through this story, I wanted to show that when we’re friends, when we stand together as a team – we are capable of achieving great things and overcoming any obstacle,” says Taras.
The author announced he’s working on the second part and values reader feedback. He wants the story to resonate with everyone.
Writers from the Prykarpattia region also attended the book presentation. They offered the young author advice on how to preserve his unique writing style in future works.
You can purchase the book and support the author through his social media pages. The price is 250 UAH. The GLUZD and The League of the Strong teams have already contributed to the project and even received signed copies from the author.
Don’t miss your chance to get yours too!
Small actions – big changes
Despite his creative talents and beginnings as a writer, Taras is still on a journey of self-discovery. This year, he enrolled at Kherson State University, where he will study sociology remotely. He shares that his decision was inspired by a series of training sessions he attended in the spring, organized by the League of the Strong. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, such as “Accessibility, universal design and human-centered planning in the activities of the civil sector,” and “A Multidisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of children.” Together with his mother, he also took part in online advocacy training.
These experiences motivated him to become a civic activist. Taras is now a member of the NGO “Slid” (“Trace”). The organization attends sessions of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council and, according to Taras, consults the local government on accessibility issues. Ukrainian cities are striving to become more inclusive for everyone – a need that has only grown during wartime. Taras notes that there’s a severe lack of accessible ramps in Ivano-Frankivsk. Even with his mother’s help, he often can’t access shops or pharmacies, as the ramps are either too narrow or too steep.
Transportation remains another challenge, though the city has recently added more inclusive trolleybuses, allowing Taras to use public transport when necessary. Still, he insists that accessibility is not just a concern for people with disabilities – it’s a shared responsibility that should matter to everyone.
As part of the “Empower Ukraine” project by the League of the Strong NGO, supported by the European Disability Forum, Taras received a specially designed shower chair upon request. While this device made his daily routine physically easier, he says the training sessions and connections with like-minded people gave him something far greater. The Danyltsiv family calls these experiences “a breath of fresh air.”
Until the age of 18, people with disabilities in Ukraine receive rehabilitation vouchers and have more opportunities to attend events, meet peers with similar needs and live full, active lives. But once Taras turned 18, all of that changed – his only remaining support is a disability pension of just 8,000 UAH per month. As his mother Tetiana explains, that amount barely covers basic necessities, let alone paid trainings or rehab. After turning 18 they felt as though they had been left completely on their own. Last year they came across the League of the Strong organization by chance and decided to try attending one of its events. Taras, being very sociable like many young people, was eager for connection – and for Tetiana it was a rare and valuable opportunity to talk with other parents whose children are also living with cerebral palsy.
“The best thing a person with a disability and their family can do is to find something that truly brings them joy,” says Taras. “The worst is to think of disability as a life sentence. Don’t give up on yourself. We are all unique and within each of us lives a bright and vivid inner world.”
To those who fail to see it, Taras offers a simple piece of advice: “Take a microscope and look at just one leaf from a tree.” He believes that if we set aside external barriers and learn to see each other not with our eyes but with our hearts – we’ll discover entire universes within one another.
This material was created with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), CBM, and the European Disability Forum (EDF). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the financial partners or EDF.
Text and photos by: Ulyana Feniak