Experts of “The League of the Strong” held a series of workshops for representatives of local governments and civil society activists. On November 15, the meeting was held in Ivano-Frankivsk, on November 16 – in Ternopil, and on November 18 – in Cherkasy. Together with experts from various government departments, community activists and engaged residents, the participants analyzed the problems and created solution maps. After finalizing them, “The League of the Strong” will send to local councils proposals for changes to increase the level of inclusivity in communities.
“The peculiarity of these workshops is that they are very practical. We not only teach, but also discuss problems and develop concrete solutions with each structural unit, because barrier-free accessibility has several areas: physical, informational, digital, educational, economic, social and civil,” explains Olga Hvozdik, advocacy manager of “The League of the Strong”.
It should be noted that each of the communities already has some experience in implementing accessibility. According to Nina Matsiuk, an expert on inclusivity and barrier-free access, a consultant at the Center of Expertise on the Rights of People with Disabilities, who has been working in this niche for a long time, it is also positive that the issue of inclusivity and accessibility is now considered a comprehensive issue, not just social assistance, as it was before.
“For example, almost everyone agrees that the availability of social taxis does not solve the issue of transportation for people with disabilities, as it is not convenient, because it needs to be ordered several days in advance and does not meet the needs of all people. Therefore, public transport should work in such a way that it can be used by all people, including people with disabilities,” explains Nina Matsiuk.
As for the challenges, one of the key ones is that communities do not have a clear understanding of who is responsible for ensuring accessibility. This is due to a lack of in-depth knowledge on this issue and the absence of relevant specialists. As a result, local capacity in the area of inclusivity and accessibility remains weak.
“This year we launched the Center of Expertise on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Its activities are largely aimed at solving this problem. The Center’s experts advise local governments on including barrier-free aspects in their development strategies, and so on. Currently, we are working closely with 30 target communities, but anyone can apply for consultations,” summarizes Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “The League of the Strong”.
The trainings were held as part of the new Empower Ukraine project. It is aimed at improving living conditions for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in Ternopil, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. The project provides training for medical professionals, advocacy, and direct humanitarian assistance. In total, more than 9 thousand people will benefit from the project.
This publication has been produced with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), CBM and the European Disability Forum. The views expressed in this document are those of “The League of the Strong” and therefore can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the funding partner and the European Disability Forum.