Humanitarian assistance for people with disabilities in frontline areas
06.08.2024
News
People with disabilities already have a difficult life, and the war has made it even harder. This is especially felt in the frontline areas. That is why we, the LAOOI team, together with our partners SOLIDAR SUISSE and SOLIDAR SUISSE UKRAINE, are actively helping them.
Our project "Paths to Integration: Humanitarian Response in Ukraine" is currently operating in Donetsk region. We are helping people with disabilities in Sloviansk. We want their homes to be comfortable and accessible. That is why we are installing ramps, special handrails, and making bathrooms more comfortable.
Our specialists assess the needs of each home, create plans, and use the best materials. We carefully document everything so that people can be confident in the quality of our work.
We have already helped several families in Sloviansk, and this inspires us to keep going!
We are not stopping at what we have achieved and have big plans for the future. We are working to ensure that everyone who needs our help receives it quickly and effectively. Our goal is to provide a dignified life for everyone who needs it, and we are confident that together we can change the lives of many people for the better.
News and events
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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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