The NGO “The League of the Strong” presented the results of a study on available services for people with disabilities in the Nikopol community. Based on these results, advocacy campaigns will be developed to launch social services at the proper level. This was reported by Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “The League of the Strong” public union.
“The research has shown that rehabilitation and social services for people with disabilities in the Nikopol community are virtually inaccessible. Unfortunately, the situation is getting worse due to daily shelling, lack of medical personnel, lack of specialized transport and social facilities destroyed by the war,” – said Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “The League of the Strong” NGO.
“The League of the Strong” is working to improve legislation for people with disabilities. In a number of reforms, such as deinstitutionalization and the procedure for obtaining a disability, we have come across the fact that the issue of social services in Ukraine is very important. And these reforms will only take place if quality services are provided at the local level. The study focused on what services the residents of the Nikopol community receive and what their quality is.
Andriy Chernousov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Kharkiv Institute for Social Research, presented the results of the study of available services for people with disabilities in the Nikopol community during the roundtable.
“The study consisted of several stages. We interviewed local residents about their needs, perceptions and problems with receiving social services and the challenges of the war. The No. 1 problem for the residents is security – 76% of respondents mentioned it. Social support for vulnerable groups of the population is in second place. I believe that the research we have conducted will enable the Nikopol community to make the right management decisions, including the introduction of new social services,” said Andriy Chernousov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Kharkiv Institute for Social Research.
Matteo Cavalieri, Regional Manager of the Eastern Hub of the international non-governmental organization Humanity & Inclusion (HI), took part in the roundtable.
“We arrived in Ukraine at the beginning of the humanitarian crisis, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. We work in Kyiv, in the west and in the east of Ukraine. We are engaged in information activities, work to improve people’s mental health, and fully support Ukraine in its inclusive component to meet the needs of all segments of the population. We are also engaged in humanitarian and financial assistance,” said Matteo Cavalieri, Regional Manager of the Eastern Hub of the international non-governmental organization Humanity & Inclusion (HI).
The roundtable was attended by representatives of civil society and international organizations and Nikopol City Council. In particular, they discussed the adaptation of social services and providing support to people with disabilities at home rather than in institutions. It is also necessary to adapt the programs of international organizations to meet the needs of people with disabilities and evacuation programs for families with children and adults with disabilities. An important issue is to retrofit shelters in public institutions where people with disabilities receive services. It is also necessary to address the issue of broader financial support to hire additional staff – psychologists, medical and social workers.
“Today’s meeting gave us the opportunity to discuss once again the urgent problems people face when receiving social services. In the future, we will formulate recommendations, combine them with other studies in other regions of Ukraine and, based on this, carry out advocacy activities to launch social services at a high level,” said Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “The League of the Strong” NGO.
The survey was conducted among institutions and non-governmental organizations in Nikopol with the support of the international non-governmental organization Humanity & Inclusion and the World Health Organization.
The project “Filling the Gap – Collecting Up-to-Date Data on the Provision of Social and Rehabilitation Services for People with Disabilities” aims to bridge the information gap, monitor access, and complement existing advocacy efforts on access to social and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and raise awareness of the inclusion of people with disabilities as part of the Government of Ukraine’s efforts to rebuild the country.
The project will include mapping of existing social and rehabilitation services, as well as identifying potential barriers for people with disabilities to access services. It will also identify services and organizations that provide support to people with disabilities.