Support that respects people's choices

Ksenia and Lesya live in Chernivtsi. They are twin sisters, both 26 years old. The sisters live together, but each has her own interests and plans.

Lesya loves to cook and bake for her family and is considering making cooking her career. Their mother, Lyudmila, has suggested more than once that her daughter try training to become a baker or chef. But Lesya hasn’t yet decided whether she wants to pursue a career in this field or keep cooking as a hobby. She previously completed accounting courses but didn’t end up working in that field. Now Lesya continues to search for a path that’s right for her. 

Ksenia has her own interests. She loves music, socializes a lot, and easily connects with children. She enjoys talking with them, joking around, and spending time together.

Lesya regularly donates money from her pension to support the Ukrainian military. “It may be a small amount, but I believe it will help,” she says.

Recently, both sisters received support through the “Women’s Health” project. Ksenia was given a new wheelchair, and Lesya received financial assistance. For Ksenia, the new wheelchair means, above all, easier movement and greater mobility in her daily life. A properly selected mobility aid directly impacts comfort and the ability to manage daily life. For Ksenia, the new wheelchair provided exactly the support she needed.

At first glance, a dress and sneakers might seem like an ordinary purchase. At the same time, the ability to choose the things you need on your own, plan your own expenses, and treat yourself to something you’ve long wanted to buy is part of ordinary daily life, independence, and confidence in your own decisions.

That is precisely why targeted financial assistance is so important. A person knows their own needs best and can independently determine what is a priority for them at any given moment. For some, this might be medication or rehabilitation aids; for others, it might be clothing, household items, transportation, or other necessary expenses. This form of support gives the person the right to choose and the ability to use the assistance in a way that fits their specific life situation.

In both cases, the various forms of support were based not on generalized assumptions about the needs of women with disabilities, but on the specific circumstances of each individual.

This assistance was provided as part of the “Women’s Health” project, which is being implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine with the support of and in partnership with the Norwegian Federation for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Atlas Alliance.

Oleksandra Perkova, Communications Manager of the Project