We continue sharing real stories from communities that inspire the entire team of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) to keep driving positive change and building a more inclusive society.
Tetiana, 30, lives in the city of Karlivka in the Poltava region. Shortly after birth, she required surgery. Later, as Tetiana grew, her parents noticed that she was having trouble hearing. Doctors eventually discovered that during her early surgery, one of her ears had been practically "sealed shut."
Despite these difficulties, Tetiana successfully completed school and studied alongside her peers. She doesn’t complain about her life — instead, she meets every challenge with confidence and remarkable inner strength. She dreams of creating something of her own, such as baking personalized pastries or cooking original dishes. And she hopes to build a family of her own one day.
“It’s better to fall and get back up again and again, than to stop and just wait,” Tetiana says.
Recently, Tetiana contracted COVID-19, and sadly, the illness caused complications in her remaining hearing ear, making it even harder for her to interact with the world around her. On top of this, her mother suffered a stroke, and doctors later diagnosed a brain tumor.
In difficult times like these, support is crucial. That’s why we provided Tetiana with financial assistance. She will also soon receive a hearing aid — something she is looking forward to with great anticipation.
We keep moving forward — and doing good together.
This story is part of the project “Disability-Inclusive Multisectoral Humanitarian Assistance for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Returnees, Veterans, and Host Communities in Ukraine”, implemented by NAPD with financial support from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany (GFFO), CBM, and the European Disability Forum (EDF).
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