The project “Vocational Education and Training (VET): Improving Training for Veterans and People with Disabilities” has been launched in Ukraine. It is implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities (NAPD) in partnership with Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. (СВМ) as part of the multi-donor Skills4Recovery initiative, which seeks to make vocational education genuinely accessible to all. The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of VET institutions to work effectively with diverse groups of learners—including veterans and persons with disabilities—by integrating inclusive approaches into everyday teaching practice.
The Project will provide
Навчання для тих, хто навчає. More than 100 teachers and administrators from 18 VET institutions will master inclusive teaching methods, universal learning design, the basics of crisis support, and first psychological aid. Participants will learn to adapt educational processes for different learner groups and to identify and overcome hidden barriers in communication, assessment, and learning environment.
Practical guidebook. NAPD will develop a step-by-step guide to inclusive vocational education and training to help colleges across Ukraine implement inclusive approaches.
Supervision and professional support. The project will provide regular consultations, peer-learning opportunities, and mentoring to prevent professional burnout and ensure sustainable change.
Communication without stigma. Educational institutions will receive tools to conduct inclusive information campaigns and engage effectively with prospective learners and employers.
Why This Matters
The full-scale war has sharply increased the need for accessible education, retraining opportunities, and support for people in Ukraine as they try to return to active lives. The project will help educators better understand the experiences of veterans and persons with disabilities and ensure that every student can participate equally in the educational process.
“We want everyone—a veteran, a person with a disability, any student — to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and realize their potential. That is what true accessibility means,” says Viktoriia Nazarenko, Secretary General of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine.
Background information
The project “Inclusive VET: Improving Training for Veterans and People with Disabilities” focuses on integrating inclusive practices into the VET system, strengthening teachers’ competencies, and fostering a supportive learning environment.
