Accessibility Starts at the Doorstep: Why Does It Matter for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)?

For someone forced to leave their home because of war, finding a new place to live is already a difficult challenge. For persons with disabilities and displaced people with reduced mobility, there is an additional obstacle — physical accessibility.

Can a person enter a building without barriers? Is there a ramp? Can a wheelchair user independently go outside and access essential services?

As part of the project “Inclusive Accommodation and Protection of Vulnerable IDPs in Kharkiv Oblast,” the Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (LAOPD) pays particular attention to the needs of people living in collective accommodation centres.

Providing temporary shelter is not enough. It is equally important to create an environment where people feel safe, have access to essential assistance, and can maintain their independence.

Our work involves comprehensive support:

• Individual case management for people facing difficult life circumstances;
• Legal assistance and support in restoring personal documents;
• Psychological support;
• Assistance in addressing accessibility challenges and adapting to everyday life;
• Referrals to essential social and other services.

The photos show buildings and surrounding areas of collective accommodation centres. These spaces remind us how important it is to consider everyone’s needs, especially those of people with mobility difficulties.

True inclusion means that no one should have to overcome barriers simply to live an ordinary life.

We firmly believe that forced displacement should never mean losing one’s dignity, independence, or right to an accessible environment.

The project is implemented by a consortium comprising the NGO Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, the NGO Community Development Fund, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), with the support of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

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