First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska participated in a meeting of the National Barrier-Free Council. Among those attending were representatives of central and local government bodies, international organizations, partner countries, businesses, and civil society, as well as community accessibility coordinators and accessibility ambassadors. Participants reviewed the work carried out over the past and current years, presented the results of flagship projects, and identified the tasks to be completed by the end of 2026.
“At least a third, and perhaps even half, of Ukrainians, according to various estimates, belong to groups with reduced mobility. But in reality, accessibility is needed by everyone. Everyone, regardless of age, health status, or gender, needs accessible spaces, accessible education, accessible jobs, and accessible information. In other words, all forms of accessibility for which the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment was established,” Olena Zelenska said.
The President’s wife added that, according to research findings, Ukrainians are most satisfied with the accessibility of retail establishments and least satisfied with the accessibility of cultural institutions and sports facilities.
“So we can have a shopping center that is friendly and convenient for everyone, and right next to it, a theater that you simply cannot enter in a wheelchair. A modern low-floor tram that the city is proud of may run along the central street, while an old minibus with high steps serves the neighborhood. The concept of a route has become especially important in creating a barrier-free environment. Accessibility only makes sense when it is connected. When a person can reach their destination without encountering barriers along the way,” the First Lady emphasized.
During the meeting, the ministries presented their flagship accessibility projects.
In particular, the Ministry for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine presented the “Institutional Capacity of Communities” project, aimed at implementing accessibility at the local level – from preparing policy documents and establishing dedicated units in communities to training in barrier-free communication and developing accessible routes with the participation of ambassadors.
The Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine presented two initiatives. The first is the “Barrier-Free Veteran Spaces” project, which involves creating a network of state-run centers for the recovery, support, and adaptation of defenders as they return to civilian life. The second is the “Developing Sports for Veterans” project, aimed at engaging defenders recovering from injuries and their families in physical activity and national and international competitions as an important component of psychosocial rehabilitation.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine presented the “KROK: Comprehensive Development, Education and Career” project, which focuses on creating a continuous educational pathway for children and young people with special educational needs – from preschool education and vocational training to employment and integration into society.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine presented the “Hubs of the Future” project to help young people plan their lives and achieve economic self-reliance through needs assessments, specialist training, and hands-on work with participants in communities.
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine presented a package of initiatives to bring more people into the labor market and address workforce shortages through targeted employment programs for internally displaced people, workplace adaptations for people with disabilities, and training for professionals aged 50 and over as part of the “Experience Matters” project.
“Today, the ministers are reporting on their flagship projects, that is, on their individual areas of responsibility. But the overall goal is for these projects to fit together like pieces of a puzzle into one large accessibility route for everyone. So that these are not just ‘oases’ of accessibility. My personal request to the ministers is this: when reviewing your reports, look not only at the numbers, but also at whether a person can make the entire journey without gaps. Make sure that your project is not an island in an ocean of barriers and that there are bridges leading to it,” the First Lady said.
According to Olena Zelenska, barrier-free communication is also important – namely, following the standards for respectful communication established this year in the state standard “Terminology of Barrier-Free Communication.”