Promoting integration policies and services for people with disabilities in Ukraine

The program was implemented in two stages.

The first stage of the Program was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine from December 2012 to March 2015.

The second stage of the Program was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the support of the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in partnership with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine for 18 months (September 2017 - February 2019).

Program objective: to promote the application of accessibility and universal design standards, ensuring sustainable development and dissemination of the results achieved during the first phase. The program focuses on overcoming existing barriers that prevent or limit equal opportunities for people with disabilities to access services and facilities, and ensuring that the rights of people with disabilities in healthcare, education, employment, public and social services are fully realized on a daily basis.

Results:

1. We have implemented 10 local initiatives on universal design in healthcare, employment, social services, infrastructure, etc;
2. 180 representatives of national and local authorities, businesses, social service providers, and employers apply the principles of universal design and accessibility;
3. The Universal Design Resource Center for raising awareness of accessibility and universal design principles among the public and professionals is established and operational;
4. 2 manuals on the implementation of accessibility and universal design principles in healthcare facilities and on workplace support were developed and presented to partners;
5. 400 thousand representatives of government, business, service providers, and the public strengthened their capacity for accessibility and universal design as a result of public education and information events/conferences/distribution of materials;
6. 4 sectoral regulations or training programs on accessibility and universal design have been developed.
7. Universal design websitewhich was developed under the first phase of the Program, is being maintained and updated with new information, best practices, stories, presentations, and more.