What changes are coming to Kharkiv’s collective centers? We speak directly to residents
25.09.2026
Events
We are continuing to hold information sessions for residents of collective centers in the Kharkiv region. This time, our team met with residents from two additional centers; one of the meetings drew over 70 people.
The conversation was informal and focused on matters directly affecting residents' daily lives: the support available through the project, who to contact for assistance, and the specific changes planned for their centers.
We specifically outlined upcoming improvements to living conditions and accessibility. Planned upgrades include renovations to sanitary facilities and entrances, wider doorways, accessible plumbing fixtures, handrails, non-slip flooring, and other solutions essential for the safe and independent movement of people with disabilities and those with limited mobility.
An equally important aspect of these meetings is the direct dialogue. Residents asked questions, shared their needs, and received immediate clarifications from the specialists.
The project "Inclusive Accommodation and Protection for Vulnerable IDPs in the Kharkiv Region" is implemented by the Public Union "LAOOI" with the support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
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Barrier-Free Principles into Practice: Dnipro Hosts Three-Day Training by the LAOOI
The "Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities" (LAOOI) recently held a three-day training session in Dnipro titled "Barrier-Free Principles in Action: Inclusion. Protection. Resilience" for representatives of local healthcare facilities in the Nikopol district of the Dnipropetrovsk region. The three days focused on making assistance truly accessible, safe, and dignified—covering everything from the physical accessibility of spaces to effective communication and the referral of individuals to necessary services. Participants discussed barrier-free environments and non-discrimination, learned to identify physical, informational, and communication barriers, worked with practical accessibility assessment tools, and examined the principles of reasonable accommodation. Special attention was paid to a protection-oriented approach, confidentiality, informed consent, and the "do no harm" principle. A key part of the training involved working through real-life scenarios: how to respond when someone reports violence or another threat, how to prevent re-traumatization, how to establish safe referral pathways, and where to draw professional boundaries. Discussions also covered professional burnout, stress, self-regulation, and team support. The third day focused on ethical and supportive communication. Participants explored how to communicate with people following loss, displacement, or traumatic experiences—without pressure or stigma—and how to tailor communication to an individual's state and needs. They also discussed how to coordinate interactions among social, medical, educational, and administrative services and civil society organizations. Accessibility encompasses the entire journey a person takes to access help: whether they can reach the necessary location, receive clear information, be heard, avoid discrimination, and ultimately obtain the specific support they require. The training was conducted as part of the project "Integrated Protection, Health, and Inclusion for Vulnerable Newly Displaced Persons, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and Particularly Vulnerable Groups in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk Regions (Priorities 1, 2, 4)." The project is supported by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) and implemented by the "Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities" (LAOOI) and Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS).
28.09.2026
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Events
What changes are coming to Kharkiv’s collective centers? We speak directly to residents
We are continuing to hold information sessions for residents of collective centers in the Kharkiv region. This time, our team met with residents from two additional centers; one of the meetings drew over 70 people. The conversation was informal and focused on matters directly affecting residents' daily lives: the support available through the project, who to contact for assistance, and the specific changes planned for their centers. We specifically outlined upcoming improvements to living conditions and accessibility. Planned upgrades include renovations to sanitary facilities and entrances, wider doorways, accessible plumbing fixtures, handrails, non-slip flooring, and other solutions essential for the safe and independent movement of people with disabilities and those with limited mobility. An equally important aspect of these meetings is the direct dialogue. Residents asked questions, shared their needs, and received immediate clarifications from the specialists. The project "Inclusive Accommodation and Protection for Vulnerable IDPs in the Kharkiv Region" is implemented by the Public Union "LAOOI" with the support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
25.09.2026
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Events
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the LAOOI team distributed assistive devices to those in need
Assistive devices were distributed in Kryvyi Rih as part of a project focused on integrated protection, healthcare, and inclusion. Recipients received walkers, crutches, canes, wheelchairs, and other essential aids that facilitate mobility and assist with daily living. Such items serve a very practical purpose. When a person has difficulty moving around, even routine daily tasks may require outside help. A properly selected assistive device offers greater opportunities to manage these tasks independently. That is why it is important not merely to hand over equipment, but to take each individual's specific needs into account. This assistance was provided under the project "Integrated Protection, Health, and Inclusion for Vulnerable Newly Displaced Persons, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and Particularly Vulnerable Population Groups in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk Regions." The project is implemented with the support of the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) by the "Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities" (LAOOI) and Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS). VIS Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo We continue our work to ensure that essential aid is available where it is needed most. Надіслати відгук
24.09.2026
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