First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska has summarized the implementation results of barrier‑free projects carried out by ministries in cooperation with civil society and international partners under her “Barrier‑Free” initiative and the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier‑Free Environment in Ukraine.
In total, 25 projects are now underway, 11 of which were launched this year.
“Barrier‑free means being able to learn at any age, to work, to move around freely. It means being able to access information and services, be part of the community, and fulfil your potential. We all need a barrier-free environment, regardless of how old we are or what situation we are in right now, as life can vary even within a single day. And if at any moment, on any path, we encounter not obstacles but opportunities, humanity, and help – that is true absence of barriers,” noted the President’s wife.
“Development of the Rehabilitation System” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Health: 358 inpatient and 505 outpatient facilities are already operating, with 12,000 rehabilitation specialists (eight times more than in 2022).
“Active Parks: Barrier-Free Leisure Locations (Adaptive Sports)” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Youth and Sports: 200 adaptive clubs operate across 18 regions and Kyiv, visited by more than 85,000 people.
“Barrier‑Free Access to Legal Information for National Minorities” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Justice: consultations are available on the WikiLegalAid platform, with legal materials being prepared in Crimean Tatar.
“Barrier‑Free Driving Schools” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: seven schools are already operating in the Kyiv region (Vita-Poshtova), Dnipro, Kropyvnytskyi, Lviv, Odesa, Kamianets-Podilskyi, and Vinnytsia.
“Implementation of Barrier‑Free Strategy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” – digital transformation of consular services through the e‑Consul system.
“Formula for a Dignified Return to Civilian Life” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs: 11 care spaces operate within healthcare facilities, where more than 2,000 support specialists have provided over 500,000 consultations.
“Development of Sports for Veterans” – a project of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs: 124,000 people have already taken part in sports events, including 45 nationwide competitions, 10 educational and training camps, and over 160 regional sporting events.
“Improvement of the Rehabilitation Aids Provision System” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity: around 130 enterprises are operating, over 70 of which produce prostheses and orthoses. This year, more than 100,000 Ukrainians received nearly 400,000 rehabilitation aids.
“Supported Living” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity: 14 assisted‑living homes for people with disabilities operate in five regions.
“Early Intervention” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity: 105 early intervention teams work in 23 regions; in just 10 months this year, they helped more than 2,700 children under four with developmental delays or at risk of developmental challenges.
“Improving Electoral Accessibility for People with Disabilities” – a flagship project of the Central Election Commission: information accessibility has been ensured, with electoral posters and ballot details translated into Ukrainian Sign Language, QR codes linked to audio formats, and digital texts accessible to people with visual impairments.
“Specialized Women’s Military Uniforms” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Defense: the need for servicewomen’s clothing has been met 100%, with 30,000 adaptive field suits, 50,000 tops, and over 50,000 items of underwear delivered.
“Services for the Wounded (Wounded Warrior Package)” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Defense: more than 450,000 units of adaptive clothing have been procured and distributed by the Ministry.
“Health and Recovery Centers for Military Personnel” – a flagship project of the Ministry of Defense, aimed at creating a modern, physically accessible network of rehabilitation centers for servicemembers and veterans: a comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Defense’s hospital network for accessibility was conducted this year.
Additionally, according to the First Lady, physical accessibility is also being implemented by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories (projects “Updates to State Building Regulations and Alignment with European Standards,” “Barrier‑Free Recovery,” and “Movement Without Barriers”). In 15 pilot cities, accessible routes now total 77 km.
Information accessibility is promoted through initiatives such as “Barrier-Free Access to Emergency and Public Services” (Ministry of Internal Affairs), “Culture Without Barriers” (unhindered access to cultural institutions), and “Information Without Barriers” (training officials in barrier‑free communication, Ministry of Culture).
Educational accessibility is ensured through projects such as “Educational Accessibility: Opening New Horizons,” “Public Administration Without Barriers” (National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service), and “Education for All” (Ministry of Education): nearly 50,000 children are studying in inclusive classes. A related initiative, the School of Superheroes, has expanded its network of educational centers in hospitals to 23 locations across 20 regions, with the centers’ setup supported in part by the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
Digital accessibility is being developed through the “Barrier‑Free Administrative Service Centers” project (Ministry of Digital Transformation), now operating in 14 communities.
Economic accessibility is implemented through the “Barrier‑Free Labor Market” project (Ministry of Economy): more than 2,900 employers have received state compensation for creating barrier‑free workplaces for people with disabilities.