Support That Warms: Winter Kits for the Most Vulnerable Families
28.02.2025
News
Support That Warms: Winter Assistance for Those in Need
Winter always brings new challenges, but it is especially harsh for those living in war-affected areas. The Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (LAOPD), in partnership with Solidar Suisse, is implementing the project “Guaranteed Support for the Population of Ukraine During the Winter Period,” funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
In frontline settlements, people face daily danger. Shelling, lack of heating, power outages, and water shortages have become a harsh reality. Many homes are damaged or destroyed, and evacuation is often not an option. Under such conditions, even the most basic necessities become critically important.
To support those in the most vulnerable situations, LAOPD is distributing winter humanitarian kits to those who need them the most. These include families headed by persons with disabilities, large families with children, and elderly or single individuals struggling to survive.
Aid is already being delivered to settlements in the Kharkiv region, with the next phase covering the Donetsk region. In total, 108 households will receive assistance as part of this project.
All kits are distributed free of charge, and the distribution process is carefully documented to ensure transparency and proper allocation.
We cannot stop the war, but we can make sure that those left near the frontlines have the support they need to get through the winter. Thanks to our partners, Solidar Suisse and SDC, we continue to provide critical aid to those who need it most.
💙 A huge thank you to everyone involved in this initiative! Together, we are stronger!
News and events
All publicationsEvents

Training course ‘Barrier-free in action: inclusion, protection, resilience’ launched in Dnipro
A three-day training course entitled ‘Barrier-free in action: inclusion, protection, sustainability’ has started in Dnipro, bringing together 18 specialists from the social sphere, education, medicine and public organisations. Our goal is to create a professional environment that can provide conditions of safety, dignity and accessibility for every person. Over the course of three days, participants will: • learn about the broad concept of accessibility and ways to implement it in their daily work; • learn to assess the accessibility of spaces and services; • discuss the inclusion of children and support for people in difficult life situations; • work out algorithms for responding safely to cases of violence; • gain practical skills in self-regulation and self-care, which are necessary for resilience and effectiveness in professional activities. Our ambition is not just to conduct training, but to bring about real change in communities. Therefore, each participant will complete the training with a personal action plan that they can implement in their organisation. The training is conducted as part of the project ‘Protection, health care and inclusion of vulnerable populations in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions,’ implemented by the Luhansk Association of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (LAOPD) and Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS) with the support of OCHA Ukraine. Together, we are building a barrier-free future.
11.11.2025
Read more
News

Ukraine resumes unscheduled inspections of buildings for accessibility: LAOI position
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved changes that allow state architectural and construction control authorities to resume unscheduled inspections of facilities for compliance with accessibility standards. After the start of the full-scale war, these inspections were effectively suspended in order to reduce the burden on businesses and communities. However, for people with disabilities, parents with young children, older people and other groups with limited mobility, this meant not a simplification, but an increase in barriers in everyday life. What is changing now The government has simplified the control mechanism: unscheduled inspections can now be carried out without the approval of the relevant ministry. This makes it possible to respond more quickly to violations and increase the responsibility of developers and contractors who commission facilities without complying with accessibility standards. This is not just about ‘convenience’ or technical details. It is about the right of every person to move freely, to enter shops, hospitals, administrative buildings and use services without hindrance. Where the challenges remain Despite the positive decision, there are a number of risks: Training of specialists. Inspections are only effective when they are carried out by people who are familiar with DBN standards and universal design principles. Resources of regulatory authorities. Without a sufficient number of inspectors, transport and technical means, control may remain a formality. Territorial restrictions. Inspections are only permitted in safe regions. Therefore, frontline communities, where accessibility is critically important, will continue to remain without state control. Why this decision is important Accessibility is not a privilege or a comfort. It is the right to participate in community life, the right to freedom of movement, the right to be independent. The introduction of unscheduled inspections can significantly improve the quality of new construction, reconstruction and management decisions. However, the real effect will only be felt when control becomes systematic and professional. LAOI's position At the Luhansk Association of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities , we see every day how barriers in the environment affect people's lives — from the ability to get to the hospital to the simple act of leaving the house. We welcome the Government's decision and look forward to the first results of the inspections. LAOOD is ready to cooperate with communities, authorities and experts to improve Ukrainian accessibility practices and make the environment truly barrier-free.
10.11.2025
Read more
Events

Construction in Ukraine will be checked for accessibility in the EDESSB
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a decision that changes the approach to design and construction — from now on, all projects will undergo digital accessibility testing in the EDESSB system. This is not just a technical requirement, but a guarantee that the needs of every person will be taken into account during construction — a parent with a pram, a veteran with a prosthesis, a person with a cane, or a pregnant woman. Each project will now require an accessibility checklist — a document confirming that architects and experts have taken accessibility standards into account at the design stage. This will allow schools, hospitals, homes and public spaces to be built to be accessible to everyone from the outset, without the need for modifications after commissioning. ‘Barrier-free access should not be just a declaration, but a real norm for every project. We are laying down the principle of accessibility at the design stage so that every new building, school or hospital in Ukraine is comfortable for everyone, without exception,’ emphasised Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba . YEDESSB will now become not only the basis for construction documents, but also a digital tool for monitoring compliance with humanity and equality in space. From the first drawings to commissioning. Because true reconstruction is when everyone can open the door and walk inside. The photos were taken from open internet sources.
30.10.2025
Read more








