Barrier-free access is not about the future. It is about the present.
04.07.2025
News
At the invitation of the Main Directorate of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Kyiv, the team of the Luhansk Association of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities joined in surveying service centres for physical and informational accessibility.
But this was not a routine audit according to instructions. It was a joint effort with those who help people overcome invisible barriers in seemingly accessible institutions on a daily basis. And it was another point on the map of our field trip — a long, difficult, but necessary one.
We didn't just check ramps or doorways. We were present — physically and mentally — where accessibility determines not comfort, but survival. In Kyiv, our team began surveying service centres immediately after a night of heavy shelling. Earlier, we were in Kharkiv, where a rocket hit our friends' house. Near Dnipro, we witnessed a tragedy on the railway.
But the work does not stop. Because accessibility is not just a point in a project. It is about life. And if a person in a wheelchair cannot get to a shelter, it is no longer a question of accessibility. It is a question of the right to safety.
Our team doesn't just record problems. We listen. We analyse. We look for real solutions. We speak the language of architecture, humanity and responsibility. So that the space is truly comfortable — for everyone.
We sincerely thank the Main Office of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Kyiv for its openness to change and sincere desire to be part of practical transformation. Recommendations are already being prepared. Ahead lie new cities, new locations, new challenges. And new joint actions.
Because accessibility is not an exception. It is the new norm. And we are staying the course. Even when the ground shakes beneath our feet.
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The Abilitation Centre in Lviv: the path to independence after trauma
Together with Taras Tarasenko and Vadym Svyrydenko, the LAOPD team visited the Abilitation Centre in Lviv — a space where veterans, people who have undergone amputations and complex injuries, as well as people with disabilities, acquire the most important thing — the skills to live independently and with dignity in new conditions. The main task of the centre is to help people adapt to their new reality, teach them to live independently, and confidently use all the tools that ensure quality reintegration into society. Here, residents learn basic skills of self-care, mobility, communication, spatial orientation, and interaction with others — both within and outside an inclusive environment. The habilitation process is based on the principles of the ‘Therapeutic Community’ methodology, which allows building trust, support, and mutual respect among participants. This is not just training — it is a transformative experience that restores a person's self-confidence. We are delighted to continue our warm and constructive communication with our like-minded colleagues in Lviv, with whom we share a common vision of supporting veterans and people with disabilities: Anna Gorkun — HAB project manager, idea generator and coordinator, who brought together a team of professionals around a common goal. Serhii Titarenko — head of the habilitation process and psychologist, whose sincerity, sensitivity and deep understanding of the needs of veterans help participants every day to move from vulnerability to confidence, from isolation to a renewed life. This centre is another powerful example of what real support for veterans and people with disabilities can look like. Thank you for your trust and openness. New partnerships and joint actions lie ahead.
25.07.2025
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President of the Swiss Parliament Maya Rhiniker visited Kharkiv
After official meetings in Kyiv, President of the National Council of the Swiss Federal Assembly Maya Riniquer visited Kharkiv, a city that remains at the epicentre of humanitarian challenges and military threats. Her visit was not only a demonstration of international support, but also an opportunity to hear first-hand from communities working on the front lines of change. “Being here today is truly important for me. With this visit to Ukraine and to the frontline city of Kharkiv, we want to better understand the needs, listen to our Ukrainian partners and show them our solidarity. And also see the impact of our contributions and bring all these insights back home” said Ms Riniker. In Kharkiv, she visited a number of humanitarian initiatives implemented with Swiss support, including a transit centre for IDPs, equipped underground auditoriums and vocational training projects. An important part of the programme was a meeting with the team of the Luhansk Association of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, which was invited to present its own experience. Together with partners with whom joint initiatives are being implemented with the support of Solidar Suisse, representatives of the LAGOI spoke about the concrete results of their work in frontline communities. In particular, they discussed improving living conditions for people with disabilities in their own homes — a solution that has not only practical but also deeply human significance. ‘This cooperation is more than just projects. It is about humanity, solidarity and shared responsibility,’ the LAOI said. They also thanked the people and the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine for their trust, support and attention to the real needs of people in high-risk areas. During her visit, the President of Switzerland also discussed the region's current needs with the regional leadership — preparations for winter, humanitarian response and demining issues. Meetings with Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synyegubov and First Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Novak demonstrated a commitment to further cooperation. The visit to Kharkiv demonstrated not only Switzerland's support, but also the strength of partnerships built on trust, mutual respect and a focus on people. I am ready to adapt this article for publication in the media, on the organisation's website or as part of a report.
08.07.2025
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News
Barrier-free access is not about the future. It is about the present.
At the invitation of the Main Directorate of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Kyiv, the team of the Luhansk Association of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities joined in surveying service centres for physical and informational accessibility. But this was not a routine audit according to instructions. It was a joint effort with those who help people overcome invisible barriers in seemingly accessible institutions on a daily basis. And it was another point on the map of our field trip — a long, difficult, but necessary one. We didn't just check ramps or doorways. We were present — physically and mentally — where accessibility determines not comfort, but survival. In Kyiv, our team began surveying service centres immediately after a night of heavy shelling. Earlier, we were in Kharkiv, where a rocket hit our friends' house. Near Dnipro, we witnessed a tragedy on the railway. But the work does not stop. Because accessibility is not just a point in a project. It is about life. And if a person in a wheelchair cannot get to a shelter, it is no longer a question of accessibility. It is a question of the right to safety. Our team doesn't just record problems. We listen. We analyse. We look for real solutions. We speak the language of architecture, humanity and responsibility. So that the space is truly comfortable — for everyone. We sincerely thank the Main Office of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Kyiv for its openness to change and sincere desire to be part of practical transformation. Recommendations are already being prepared. Ahead lie new cities, new locations, new challenges. And new joint actions. Because accessibility is not an exception. It is the new norm. And we are staying the course. Even when the ground shakes beneath our feet.
04.07.2025
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