The Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, in partnership with Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS), held a three-day training course entitled "Barrier-free in action: Inclusion, Protection, Resilience“ as part of the project ”Protection, Health Care, and Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia Regions," implemented with the support of the Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine (UHF).

During three intensive days, 18 specialists from social services, medical and educational institutions, and the public sector worked on how to make local communities accessible, safe, and inclusive for all.

The training focused on practical tools, real-life cases, and solutions that participants can apply in their daily work.

Day 1. Barrier-free in practice

Participants examined the six components of barrier-free accessibility, learned how to assess spaces for accessibility, worked with checklists, and analyzed real-life examples of building and service adaptation.

A key moment was the task “Model of an inclusive space,” which allowed participants to take a fresh look at even familiar spaces and identify their strengths and barriers.

Day 2. Inclusion, protection, and working with vulnerable groups

The main focus was on:

algorithms for responding to gender-based violence;

supporting children in crisis situations;

interaction with parents and cross-sectoral cooperation.

During the practical block, participants worked with real cases and developed ethical and safe solutions for working with children and adolescents who have experienced difficult life events.

Day 3. Burnout prevention and specialist resilience

Discussed:

the balance between empathy and professional boundaries;

self-regulation and recovery techniques;

the role of team support in daily work.

The final integration session was devoted to developing action plans that participants will integrate into the activities of their institutions in the near future.

Training objective

To increase the capacity of professionals in the social, educational, medical, and civil society sectors to implement the principles of accessibility, inclusion, and safe interaction with people with disabilities, children, and other vulnerable groups.

Acknowledgements

To the trainers — for their professionalism, depth, and sensitivity.

To the participants — for their activity, openness, and willingness to change their communities.

All participants received certificates, but the most valuable result is the changes they will bring to their communities.