Barrier-free buildings: recommendations have been issued, but will they be implemented?
04.02.2026
Articles
The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine has approved *methodological recommendations* for creating a barrier-free environment for residential and public buildings. The relevant order No. 94 was adopted on 20 January 2026.
This is an important and long-awaited step towards improving the accessibility of housing and public spaces in Ukraine.
The document contains practical approaches and solutions that allow for the gradual adaptation of apartment buildings: from accessible entrances and common areas to the arrangement of adjacent territories, taking into account the structural features of the buildings.
The methodological recommendations are addressed to:
- local authorities;
- housing fund managers;
- designers and developers;
- co-owners of apartment buildings.
In other words, everyone who has a real influence on whether a living space is accessible or has barriers.
This document is not about formal ramps ‘for show,’ but about a practical tool that can help create a comfortable and safe environment for everyone:
people with disabilities, older people, parents with prams, and residents with limited mobility.
At the same time, the key question remains open:
will these recommendations actually be implemented, and who will be held responsible if they are ignored?
Without control, public participation, and political will, even the best guidelines risk remaining on paper.
And accessibility is not a recommendation ‘if possible,’ but a basic condition for a dignified life.
News and events
All publicationsArticles
School of the Future: Safety and Inclusion as the Basis for Reconstruction
Safety and inclusion should not be an add-on, but rather the foundation for the reconstruction of Ukrainian education. This is precisely the approach taken in the adaptive project ‘ School of the Future for Ukraine ,’ which was recently presented in Ukraine. The project was developed on the initiative and with the support of Lithuania and has already been published in the State Electronic System for Construction. It is a ready-made modern school model that combines safety, accessibility and comfort. The adaptive design provides a complete set of technical documentation for the construction of an educational institution, taking into account: safety and security requirements for students and staff; the principles of inclusive design for access for all children without exception; modern standards of energy efficiency and ease of use of space. Importantly, the project is available free of charge to communities and potential donors . This significantly reduces design time and financial burden when rebuilding destroyed or damaged schools. The first school under this project is planned to be built in Zhytomyr. It should not be an exception, but a benchmark — a practical example of what a modern Ukrainian school can and should be. For LAOPD, such decisions are fundamental. Rebuilding education is not just about walls and classrooms. It is about creating a safe, accessible and dignified environment where every child can learn, develop and feel equal. It is with such decisions that a strong, modern and barrier-free Ukraine begins.
05.02.2026
Read more
Articles
Barrier-free buildings: recommendations have been issued, but will they be implemented?
The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine has approved * methodological recommendations * for creating a barrier-free environment for residential and public buildings. The relevant order No. 94 was adopted on 20 January 2026. This is an important and long-awaited step towards improving the accessibility of housing and public spaces in Ukraine. The document contains practical approaches and solutions that allow for the gradual adaptation of apartment buildings: from accessible entrances and common areas to the arrangement of adjacent territories, taking into account the structural features of the buildings. The methodological recommendations are addressed to: local authorities; housing fund managers; designers and developers; co-owners of apartment buildings. In other words, everyone who has a real influence on whether a living space is accessible or has barriers. This document is not about formal ramps ‘for show,’ but about a practical tool that can help create a comfortable and safe environment for everyone: people with disabilities, older people, parents with prams, and residents with limited mobility. At the same time, the key question remains open: will these recommendations actually be implemented, and who will be held responsible if they are ignored? Without control, public participation, and political will, even the best guidelines risk remaining on paper. And accessibility is not a recommendation ‘if possible,’ but a basic condition for a dignified life.
04.02.2026
Read more
News
Prosthetics Roadmap: A Step Towards Systemic Change or Just an Intention
Ukraine has presented a Roadmap for Reforming the Prosthetics Sector, a document that is intended to lay the foundation for systemic changes in providing people with high-quality prostheses and effective rehabilitation. The organisations Patients of Ukraine and TRUE participated in the development of the Roadmap. Rehabilitation of injuries for Ukraine — teams that work directly with people and are well aware of the real needs of patients, not just statistics. What does the Roadmap provide for? Improvement of the pricing model: the basis should be the price of the prosthesis components manufacturer, not the supplier — this potentially reduces markups and state expenditures. Strengthening quality control of prosthetic products. Establishing a clear rehabilitation path — from the moment of injury to the person's return to active life. Focusing on the professional education of prosthetists and raising the standards of specialist training. At the same time, it is important to honestly acknowledge that the roadmap is only a framework, not a ready-made solution. Ahead lies the difficult work of developing implementation mechanisms, assigning responsibility, and actually putting the changes into practice. Without this, the reform risks becoming yet another document that is correct “for the sake of it.” LAOPD welcomes the openness to dialogue and thanks the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for their willingness to continue working together on finalising the document. For us, it is essential that the reform in the field of prosthetics be: effective, not declarative; transparent, without schemes and manipulations; focused on people's needs, not on the interests of unscrupulous suppliers. High-quality prosthetics is not a ‘privilege.’ It is a person's right to a dignified life, recovery, and a future without barriers.
03.02.2026
Read more