“Space of Understanding”: How an Advocacy Campaign Helps Build an Inclusive Environment for Children with Disabilities

In October, a series of events took place in the Rozhyshche community in Volyn, aimed at bringing together professionals and parents around a shared goal — creating a genuine space of understanding, accessibility, and support for children with disabilities. The advocacy campaign “Space of Understanding: Meetings for Important Conversations!” became part of the international project “Disability-Inclusive Multisectoral Humanitarian Assistance for IDPs, Returnees, Veterans, and Host Communities in Ukraine,” implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine in partnership with the European Disability Forum (EDF), with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany (GFFO) and CBM (Christian Blind Mission). 

The main goal of the campaign in Rozhyshche is to create an inclusive support environment for children with special educational needs and their families, and to develop sustainable communication channels among specialists, educators, social services, and the community.

In Ukraine, many challenges remain in the practical implementation of the rights of people with disabilities. That is why advocacy campaigns in local communities are so important — they give a voice to those who are often unheard: families and individuals with disabilities, for whom socially created barriers are an everyday challenge. Moreover, such campaigns help strengthen local capacity and build lasting partnerships among authorities, educators, social workers, parents, and the public. They create a space for change that emerges from the community itself, rather than being imposed “from above.”

This is especially crucial during wartime, when social services are overloaded, resources are limited, and vulnerable groups — people with disabilities, elderly individuals, and families with children — need not only material support but also opportunities for self-realization, communication, and a sense of safety and dignity within their own communities.

Advocacy campaigns are not only a means of highlighting problems but also a tool for finding joint solutions. They help generate a demand for change, act as catalysts for reforming services, and promote compassion and humanity in society.

The first stage of the advocacy campaign involved meetings among educators, social workers, doctors, and school leaders. The public consultation was aimed at sharing experiences and building interagency cooperation to ensure quality support for children with disabilities.

The discussions focused on: early identification of a child’s educational needs, collaboration between parents, the community’s Inclusive Resource Center (IRC), schools, and social institutions and the professional support of specialists working with children with disabilities.

The second stage focused on supporting families raising children with disabilities — specifically, a family brunch titled “Space of Understanding.”

The event was devoted not only to acquiring new knowledge but also to caring for emotional well-being: parents had time to rest, exchange experiences, draw inspiration from successful stories, and find personal strength and resources.

Experts and speakers discussed how to adapt home-based programs for children with special educational needs, how to support parental resources, and the role of the community in the daily life of families.

While parents engaged in these important conversations, children enjoyed a fun and engaging play program.

Any advocacy effort should not be seen as a one-time event. Advocacy is more like a long-term investment. Through advocacy campaigns, communities gain development tools that foster social cohesion, protect the right to human dignity and respect, and promote inclusion for everyone who needs it. 

Thus, the Rozhyshche community has already taken its first steps. Next comes sustaining services, expanding accessibility, strengthening partnerships, and — most importantly — maintaining the willingness to listen to people, not just “meet their needs.”

Oleksandra Perkova, Communications Manager of the Project