The real-life experience of Ukrainian communities shows that accessibility does not happen on its own.

It does not arise from an order, a strategy, or a single ramp.

It is created by people — with clear powers, responsibilities, and access to decision-making.

That is why communities are increasingly creating a separate position or appointing a person responsible for accessibility issues.

And this is not a formality.

It is not an ‘additional burden’ for a secretary or project manager.

This is a key specialist who:

• coordinates work between departments and the executive branch so that accessibility does not fall apart into fragments;
• identifies real barriers — physical, digital, communication — and proposes systemic solutions;
• develops and monitors an accessibility action plan;
• helps organise services and events so that all community members can participate.

Without a clearly defined person in charge, accessibility quickly becomes ‘no one's issue’.

Someone builds a ramp.

Someone adds subtitles.

But there is no system, no standard, and no accountability for results.

Instead, a community with a barrier-free specialist gets real inclusion, not just imitation of change:

• people with disabilities, veterans, people with limited mobility, parents with prams, and older people can fully use spaces and services;
• decisions are no longer random and start to follow a single logic of accessibility;
• barrier-free access becomes part of planning, not just a paragraph in a report.

We call on communities in Ukraine to:

identify or create a barrier-free access specialist in each community.

This is not just an investment in comfort.

It is an investment in equal opportunities, dignity and development for every person who lives and works in your community.