For Ivan Kompaniets, a wheelchair is more than just a means of transportation. It’s an opportunity to go out into the yard to see his friends, take a trip to Varva, get a change of scenery, or simply spend more time outdoors. The young man lives with his mother in the Chernihiv region, studies at home, and spends a lot of time indoors, but his mother tries to make his world as broad as possible. The new wheelchair, which the family received thanks to “The League of the Strong,” helps Ivan stay active, go out and meet people more often, socialize, and learn new things in a comfortable way.
The family was overjoyed when they received a new, collapsible, and comfortable wheelchair, provided by “The League of the Strong” civic association. This will help him develop, learn, and travel.
“Ivan was born in Varva, in the Chernihiv region. There were complications during childbirth: when I arrived at the hospital, the doctor wasn’t there. Labor had already begun, but we had to wait for medical assistance. Due to prolonged oxygen deprivation — which lasted about two hours before the doctor arrived from Chernihiv — the boy developed neurological disorders. Now he gets around in a wheelchair, but he really loves going for walks,” says Ivan’s mother.
Ivan is homeschooled and loves to play in the yard
As it turned out, the child is unable to receive services in the format that is standard for others. For a while, Ivan took online classes, which allowed him to continue learning during the post-COVID period. But it later became clear that he absorbs the material better when interacting with teachers in person. Therefore, he was switched to in-person lessons with teachers at home. Due to health issues, his schooling was postponed for a year, and now he has moved up to sixth grade. He finds it easier to learn in a face-to-face setting.
“In his free time, my son likes to watch videos on YouTube — you know, those short clips or various TV shows that have moved to the platform. A tablet is really handy for this because you can take it anywhere, and it doesn’t get in the way when you’re on the go. Our old tablet broke, so Vanya was really happy when I gave him a new one. After all, for him, it’s a whole other world where he can watch educational videos or play games.”
To socialize with other children, Ivan goes out into the yard in his wheelchair. The children are friendly toward him; some even come over just to see him. Ivan also spends a lot of time with his little sister — they play together, she helps him with daily tasks, gives him massages, and actively supports him.
Although Ivan currently spends most of his time at home, trips to Varva — the place where he was born and where his mother spent a significant part of her life — are important to him. Varva remains a special place for the family. These trips give him the opportunity to get away from his usual home environment, spend time in a different place, and see familiar faces. Each trip requires some extra planning, but his mom tries not to limit him to staying at home. For a boy who spends most of his time indoors, the chance to travel and visit other places isn’t just a break — it’s a way to remain an active part of life outside his own home.
A New Wheelchair: More Possibilities for Everyday Life
For Ivan, his wheelchair is his daily means of transportation. How much time he’ll be able to spend outside the house — whether taking a walk in the yard or going somewhere else with his mom — depends on how comfortable the wheelchair is and how well it meets his needs.
“We are very grateful to ‘The League of the Strong’ public association for the wheelchair. It’s truly a huge help to us. Ivan is more comfortable now; he can go for more walks, get around more, and spend time outside the home. For our family, it’s not just a rehabilitation tool, but also an additional opportunity to structure our day so that Ivan can explore new areas of daily life. Thank you for helping and supporting families like ours,” says Ivan’s mother.
The new wheelchair turned out to be perfectly sized and expertly adjusted. It’s important for Ivan to be able to get out of the house from time to time — a properly fitted wheelchair gives him more opportunities for such outings and walks. It has also become a source of support for Ivan’s mother, who assists him in his daily life. Now it’s easier for the family to plan outings and trips.
“We don’t just provide wheelchairs — for each person, assistance begins with an assessment of their individual needs. It’s important to take into account a person’s lifestyle, their physical abilities, the conditions in which they live, and exactly why they need a wheelchair. In Ivan’s case, we were able to select and customize his wheelchair so that it fits his size and meets his daily needs. So for him, it’s not just a new wheelchair, but an opportunity to leave the house more often, run errands, and go for walks; and for his mom, it makes these trips easier and more comfortable,” says Kateryna Gontar, project manager at “The League of the Strong”.
We would like to express our gratitude to the Intesa Sanpaolo Charitable Foundation for its support of the project “Emergency Response for People with Disabilities Affected by the Conflict in Northern Ukraine,” which is being implemented in partnership with CBM Italia. As of July 2026, 475 people with disabilities had received 985 assistive devices, including 8 wheelchairs, as part of this project.
