Can a person in a wheelchair enter the building independently? Is there enough room to maneuver inside? Is the restroom convenient to use? Is the route safe for someone with a prosthesis?
This is precisely how the accessibility of the Transit Center in Voloske village (Dnipro district, Dnipropetrovsk region) was tested—in practice.
The inspection involved Mykola Nadulichnyi, Head of the "Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities," an ambassador for the "Movement Without Barriers" project and an expert on the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine.
Together with other participants, Mykola Nadulichnyi did more than just look at the premises; they traversed the center’s main routes exactly as various people would on a daily basis.
They checked entrances and exits, the width of passageways and doorways, movement routes, ramps, sanitary facilities, and signage. They evaluated the space specifically from the perspectives of a wheelchair user and a person using a prosthesis.
After all, details like measurements, slopes, thresholds, or poorly placed equipment—which some might not even notice—can become real obstacles for others.
There was also a discussion about communication accessibility: how center staff can properly interact with people with disabilities, and how to provide clear information and assistance without undermining a person's independence. All identified barriers were documented on-site, and potential solutions were discussed. Based on the inspection, recommendations were developed to further improve the accessibility of the Transit Center.
For us, a barrier-free environment is a space that a person can truly use—independently, safely, and with dignity.
That is why accessibility requires more than just planning; it must be verified in practice.