The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska summarized the implementation of barrier-free initiatives carried out by ministries in cooperation with civil society and international partners within her “Without Barriers” initiative and the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment.
This was reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine.
According to the First Lady, a total of 25 projects are currently being implemented, 11 of which were launched this year. They cover physical, social, educational, informational, digital, and economic accessibility — from rehabilitation and adaptive sports to access to legal information and inclusive public services.
“Barrier-free accessibility is needed by all of us — regardless of age or condition. Because life can be very different even within a single day”, — Olena Zelenska emphasized.
Key results by areas
Rehabilitation and medicine
- 358 inpatient and 505 outpatient rehabilitation facilities are already operating.
- 12,000 rehabilitation specialists — eight times more than in 2022.
- A comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Defense hospital network for accessibility has been conducted.
- More than 450,000 units of adaptive clothing have been procured and delivered for wounded servicemen.
Veterans and servicemembers
- 11 care spaces for veterans in medical facilities.
- Over 500,000 consultations provided by support specialists.
- 30,000 sets of women’s military uniforms, 50,000 tops, and over 50,000 units of underwear — the needs of servicewomen are covered 100%.
- Recovery and health centers for servicemen — the formation of a modern barrier-free rehabilitation network.
Adaptive sports and leisure
- 200 adaptive clubs in 18 regions and Kyiv.
- Over 85,000 visitors.
- 124,000 participants in veteran sports events, 45 nationwide competitions.
Social protection and supported living
- Over 100,000 Ukrainians received nearly 400,000 assistive rehabilitation devices.
- 14 supported living houses in five regions.
- 105 early intervention teams assisted more than 2,700 children under the age of four.
Education and culture
- Nearly 50,000 children study in inclusive classes.
- 23 “Schools of Superheroes” educational centers in hospitals across 20 regions.
- Access to cultural institutions and barrier-free information is expanding.
Digital, legal and economy accessibility
- e-Consul — digital transformation of consular services.
- WikiLegalAid — access to legal information, including translations into Crimean Tatar.
- 7 barrier-free driving schools in various regions.
- 14 communities with barrier-free Administrative Service Centers.
- Over 2,900 employers received compensation for equipping barrier-free workplaces.
The National Accessibility Strategy is being implemented as a long-term state policy. By the end of the year, the total length of barrier-free routes in 15 pilot cities has already reached 77 km, and the number of involved ministries and agencies continues to grow.
