Evacuation and support for vulnerable groups in Italy
05.04.2022
News
No one can feel the pain of another person, no one can imagine the fear of another person, no one can feel what a person feels when a shell explodes in their own home...
Every Ukrainian has their own story in this war, their own pain, their own loss and their own heroes. Millions of Ukrainians fled their homes to save themselves and their loved ones... not for long, just to a safe place.
Most people did not even hope that complete strangers would be able to help. Organize a ride, carry them in your arms, make tea, make a sandwich, give them a sedative....
Thanks to the cooperation with the Italian organization «La Memoria Viva», Mykola Nadulichnyi, advisor to the head of the Luhansk regional military-civilian administration and head of the LAOPD, has already managed to send two buses with women and children, including people with disabilities, to Italy.
The joint support program is designed for 3 months with employment opportunities, accommodation and assistance from local coordinators. Additionally, the head of the Avalist NGO met with Italian partners and a representative of the Luhansk Association of NGOs of Persons with Disabilities, Mykola Nadulichnyi, to discuss issues of joint work and humanitarian assistance.
We receive many grateful messages from people and pass them on to our partners for such a quick response and support of Ukraine in this difficult time. Thank you for every person you have saved and accepted in your families and homes as your own.
Goodness is never forgotten! We are waiting for peace, waiting for a real Ukrainian spring! Everything will be fine! Tutto andrà bene! Roberto Falletti Association La Memoria Viva
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Barrier-free beaches: from exception to standard?
Summer is still far away, but Ukrainians are already planning their holidays. And this year there is good news: the first fully barrier-free beach will be set up in Hydropark in Kyiv, with infrastructure that will allow people with reduced mobility to enjoy their holidays on an equal footing with everyone else. This is an important step. But so far, it is the exception rather than the rule. According to data from previous seasons, there were about 168 officially operating beaches in 15 regions of Ukraine — with sanitary inspections and permitted access to the water. However, fully accessible infrastructure is rare. Some initiatives have already been implemented, particularly on the beaches of Odesa, but there is still no systematic approach across the country. The overall picture of accessibility in Ukraine is also telling: only about 22% of public spaces can be considered fully accessible. The rest are either partially adapted or remain inaccessible. Beaches are part of this tourism and recreational infrastructure. Despite the national accessibility strategy for 2030 and the efforts of the state and the public sector, accessible recreation is only just emerging as a new standard. A barrier-free beach is not just a ramp to the water. It is: accessible toilets and changing rooms; safe walkways to the water's edge; special bathing chairs; convenient navigation; staff who understand the needs of different people. The sea, river or lake should be a space for everyone. We are looking forward to summer to see if barrier-free recreation will become the new norm rather than the exception.
13.02.2026
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Articles
We support the draft law on reasonable accommodation
An important draft law has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which improves the mechanism of reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities, particularly in the sphere of work and everyday life. This is not a formality, but a real change that will allow every person — regardless of their physical abilities — to participate fully in professional, social and community life. What is reasonable accommodation? These are specific, practical solutions that ensure equal conditions for participation: workplace adaptation; flexible working hours or formats; accessible services; use of assistive technologies. These are not ‘special conditions’ but necessary steps to ensure that the right to work, education and an active life is real and not just declarative. Today, the state has already defined the principles of reasonable accommodation and universal design as part of its accessibility policy in all areas, from architecture to digital services. Supporting the legislative changes initiated by the League of the Strong community is an opportunity to put these principles into practice. LAOPD joins its colleagues in calling on MPs to support the bill. Because accessibility is not just about ramps or lifts. It is about equal opportunities for every person in Ukraine: in work, education, public life and everyday activities. Together — for equal rights, dignity and true inclusion.
12.02.2026
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News
Ternopil introduces accessibility officers
Ternopil has become the first city in Ukraine to introduce the institution of accessibility officers in municipal institutions. This is not a symbolic decision — it is a systematic step towards making accessibility the norm rather than the exception. Who are accessibility officers? They are specialists who: notice barriers where others do not see them; hear the needs of people with different abilities; look for solutions immediately, rather than putting them off until later. Their tasks include: analysing the accessibility of premises, entrances and routes; adapting services and information; coordinating actions between structural units; responding promptly to residents' requests; implementing practical changes rather than formal reports. It is important to note that this initiative did not come about by chance. Representatives of Ternopil studied European experience during an international training programme, in particular the model that works in Vienna. Now this approach is being adapted to Ukrainian realities. This format of work changes not only the space, but also the management culture. Barrier-free access is becoming not a ‘separate project’ but part of the daily management of the community. Ternopil is setting the trend. And it is important that other communities in Ukraine do not wait but act today — creating systemic mechanisms of responsibility for accessibility. Because barrier-free access begins where there is a specific person responsible.
11.02.2026
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