“The League of the Strong” public union has started working with the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration. They will work together to make cultural institutions in the region accessible to people with disabilities. The first 100 cultural workers have already undergone barrier-free training. This was reported by Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “Тhe League of the Strong” public union.
“Culture and art should belong to each of us. That is why we continue to work to ensure the inclusiveness of cultural institutions and create equal opportunities for everyone. We have started cooperation with the authorities of the Zaporizhzhia region. We have a specific plan to make museums, theaters, libraries and cultural centers accessible to people with disabilities. We will share the best Ukrainian and foreign practices to implement them in cultural institutions that do not yet have them,” said Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “The League of the Strong” NGO.
The first training was conducted by Тhe League of the Strong experts for 100 representatives of museums, theaters, libraries and cultural centers. During the training, they talked about the implementation of inclusivity and barrier-free practices in the field of culture, correct communication and rules of interaction, regulatory frameworks, and spatial inclusion in cultural institutions. Such trainings are envisaged in the regional action plan for 2023-2024 to implement the national strategy for creating a barrier-free space in Ukraine until 2030.
“Creating barrier-free access to culture involves physical, informational, and digital accessibility. This requires both the implementation of current building codes and adherence to the principles of universal design, as well as research into the best international practices. All of these aspects are based on the principles of respect for human dignity and diversity, and are essential for the formation of a society of equal opportunities,” said Volodymyr Vysotskyi, an external expert at Тhe League of the Strong NGO.
During the training, Volodymyr Vysotskyi also emphasized that barrier-free access to cultural institutions requires comprehensive solutions. These include accessibility of the surrounding area and entrance group, unimpeded movement between floors, use of restrooms, and a navigation system. The functionality of cash desks, auditoriums, exhibition and reading rooms, exhibits, screens with subtitles and Braille explication is also important.
The Center of Expertise in the field of the rights of people with disabilities of the League of the Strong public union began its work in 2023. The key goal of its work is to provide expertise to local governments in their work on strategic documents governing the reconstruction and development of communities in terms of inclusiveness, barrier-free accessibility and ensuring the rights of people with disabilities.
We remind you that the Center of Expertise on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the NGO “League of the Strong” operates thanks to a grant from the Program “Support to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ukraine” within the framework of financial support from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Development.
The program is implemented by Crown Agents in partnership with International Alert and in cooperation with Crown Agents in Ukraine. The content is the sole responsibility of the public union “League of the Strong” and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the views of Crown Agents, International Alert and Crown Agents in Ukraine.