Communities for All: The Rozhyshche Community Is Promoting an Inclusive Culture and Accessibility

The advocacy campaign “Communities for All: Creating Change Together with People with Disabilities” is underway in the Rozhyshche community of Volyn Oblast. Its goal is to foster an inclusive environment where people with disabilities have equal access to services, spaces, and participation in community life.

The campaign “Space of Equals: From Communication Culture to Accessibility Standards” aims to raise awareness among residents, particularly young people, regarding proper communication and practical interaction. A key component is creating a platform for dialogue between people with disabilities, local government representatives, and the community to identify concrete steps toward accessibility.

The initiative is being implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine in collaboration with the non-governmental organization “Sporodne Teplo.” The campaign coordinator is Svitlana Arshulik. Community residents, youth, people with disabilities, veterans, and local government representatives are participating in the events.

One of the practical steps within the campaign was the informational event “Space of Equals: From Communication Culture to Accessibility Standards,” which took place at the local youth center. The event brought together young people and representatives of local government to discuss inclusive communication and environmental accessibility.

During the meeting, trainer Iryna, a representative of the Red Cross Society, presented practical approaches to interacting with people with disabilities. The discussion focused on ethical principles of communication, as well as the specifics of interacting with people who have hearing, vision, or mobility impairments. Participants discussed how to make communication more understandable, respectful, and accessible in daily life.

The practical part of the event involved assessing the accessibility of the venue. Participants had the opportunity to evaluate how accessible the space is for people who use wheelchairs or have visual impairments. This experience provided a better understanding of the barriers people may face in daily life and highlighted the need to eliminate them.

The event concluded with an art therapy activity titled “Affirmation Painting.” Participants created their own artwork using phrases and images that support and motivate them. This part of the event provided an opportunity for reflection and informal interaction.

The event highlighted the importance of combining theoretical knowledge and practical experience in creating an inclusive environment. Open dialogue and the joint participation of different groups help to better understand each other’s needs and find solutions that take into account the diversity of experiences.

The advocacy campaign is being implemented as part of the project “Disability-Inclusive Multisectoral Humanitarian Assistance for Internally Displaced Persons, Returnees, Veterans, and Host Communities in Ukraine.” The project is implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine in partnership with the European Disability Forum, with support from the German Federal Foreign Office and CBM (Christian Blind Mission).

Such initiatives help create an environment where accessibility and respect are a shared responsibility, and every person’s participation is an integral part of community development.

Oleksandra Perkova, Communications Manager of the Project