Right to rehabilitation: On 4 and 5 December in Odesa, the team of the Modern View Public Organisation held a series of events as part of the initiative "Together we can do more: a space for accessibility and support".

In December, during the celebration of Disability Rights Month, events were held in Odessa at the V.P. Filatov State Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy as part of the initiative.
 "Together we can do more: a space for accessibility and support," organised by the Modern View Public Organisation with the support of the Danish and Norwegian Associations of the Blind and the World Blind Union.

The events took place on 4 and 5 December 2025 and were aimed at developing a systematic approach to rehabilitation, improving the accessibility of services and creating a barrier-free environment for people with visual impairments, in particular veterans and military personnel who have lost their health as a result of combat operations, large-scale shelling and prolonged stress.

The right to rehabilitation is the responsibility of the state, not a subject of debate

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a binding international document ratified by Ukraine.
 According to Article 26 of the Convention, every person has the guaranteed right to:

• timely and high-quality rehabilitation,
• restoration of functional capabilities,
• social, professional and domestic adaptation,
• achieving maximum independence.

People who have lost their health as a result of military action, injuries, trauma or severe stress should not have to fight for their rights — they should receive the necessary services in a timely, systematic and comprehensive manner. The measures taken in Odessa were aimed precisely at implementing this approach.

On the first day of the event, the following took place:

• training of the Institute's medical staff in spatial orientation and rules for the safe escort of persons with vision loss;
• transfer of assistive devices (walking sticks) для реабілітації ветеранів і військовослужбовців;
• practical training in developing support skills;
• lecture for medical professionals, technical staff, scientists and postgraduate students on universal design and understanding the creation of accessible spaces;
• meeting with veterans, military personnel and their families.

On the second day, the following events took place:

• training in basic skills for using screen access programmes on smartphones for people with visual impairments;
• an organisational meeting with volunteers regarding the creation of a veterans' space for the blind.

The development of rehabilitation based on state medical institutions is a strategic necessity

The development of rehabilitation and recovery measures at the V.P. Filatov State Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy is an important component of the state system for the adaptation, treatment and recovery of people after injuries, illnesses and trauma.

It is precisely such initiatives that should become an integral part of post-war rehabilitation, return to active life, professional fulfilment and social integration of affected citizens.

The initiative implemented by the Modern View Public Organisation has become a practical example of how the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should be implemented — not at the level of declarations, but through real educational programmes, accessible services and professional training of staff.