Representatives of the public union League of the Strong and the Department of Culture of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at creating accessible spaces in the capital’s cultural institutions. This initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to introduce accessibility to various spheres of life in Kyiv. This was announced by Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of the League of the Strong.
“Accessibility is not just about comfort for people with disabilities. Well-equipped facilities based on the principle of universal design make life easier for many people – people with disabilities, parents with baby carriages, the elderly, pregnant women and people with temporary health problems. Therefore, the implementation of the key principles of accessibility will significantly expand the opportunities for Kyiv residents and visitors to attend cultural events,” comments Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of the League of the Strong.
This cooperation is another step towards creating a comprehensive accessible environment in Kyiv, including educational, cultural and other infrastructure facilities, in accordance with the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine until 2030.
“The capital is taking a comprehensive approach to the issue of accessibility. We have to create a comfortable and accessible environment for all Kyiv residents and visitors – from roads and infrastructure facilities to educational and cultural institutions. Thus, all departments of the KCSA are implementing the Action Plan for 2023-2024 to implement the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine until 2030, approved by the Mayor of Kyiv. Each structural subdivision has designated responsible persons who directly implement the principles of barrier-free access in a particular area,” adds Maryna Honda, deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration for Self-Governance and responsible for accessible city services.
Under the memorandum, the League of the Strong will provide advisory and expert support in the development of accessibility, assess the level of accessibility of cultural institutions, and assist in the implementation of universal design principles.
“In the context of a full-scale war, accessibility of cultural services is a top priority for Kyiv’s cultural institutions. Because art helps people to recover mentally, including internally displaced persons, veterans and those who suffered from Russian aggression against Ukraine. Cooperation with the League of the Strong will allow us to analyze the accessibility of cultural spaces. And based on the results of the monitoring, we will implement the principles of accessibility in artistic institutions,” said Serhiy Anzhyak, Director of the Ministry of Culture.
The signing of the memorandum is a continuation of the long-term cooperation between the League of the Strong and the Kyiv City State Administration. Earlier, the League of the Strong conducted a course on accessibility for 150 employees of the Kyiv City State Administration.