The Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation “Union” has launched an online training course titled “Designing Inclusive Solutions and Barrier-Free Reconstruction” for six communities in the Kherson region, where public participation working groups are active.
The goal of this course is to transform participants' thinking from a medical model of disability to a human rights model, and to provide practical tools for designing barrier-free environments during community reconstruction.
The training program consists of three online modules, followed by individual practical consultations for the communities on conducting accessibility audits of public facilities.
The course is led by Vitalii Pcholkin, an occupational therapist, member of the Accessibility Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and executive director of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Association of People with Disabilities ‘Active Rehabilitation Group.”
The main objective of the first module is to shift participants’ focus from the “special solutions for people with disabilities” approach to the principle of “making things convenient for everyone.” Participants examined in detail the evolution of models for understanding disability, discussed the National Accessibility Strategy, and explored the seven principles of universal design. They specifically analyzed why “people with limited mobility” is a much broader concept that includes not only people with disabilities but also parents with strollers, pregnant women, older adults, people with temporary injuries, and veterans. They also devoted significant attention to proper terminology and barrier-free communication.
More than 30 representatives from six target communities in the Kherson region — Kherson, Chornobaivka, Novovorontsovka, Vysokopillia, Kochubeivka, and Velyka Oleksandrivka — actively participated in the training. Participants included local government officials, architects, specialists in veteran support, representatives of medical and educational institutions, social workers, and members of civil society and charitable organizations.
The grant initiative is implemented by the Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation "Union" within the framework of EU4Recovery - a flagship partnership of the European Union (EU) and UNDP Ukraine.
