Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine
The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska attended the «Business Without Barriers» community meeting, which brought together companies supporting the «Without Barriers» initiative.
Participants included Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksii Kuleba, the head of the National Bank Andrii Pyshny, Minister for Veterans Affairs Natalia Kalmykova, local community leaders, and international partners.
«When in June we launched a social change campaign with UNICEF called «Barrier-Free – When You Can», we aimed for everyone to feel that this initiative is about them personally. When a person understands how an issue affects them, they become a co-author of change more quickly,» noted Olena Zelenska.
During the meeting, participants exchanged experiences in implementing barrier-free solutions. DTEK representatives shared insights on adapting mining sites for the employment of people with disabilities, while Ukrzaliznytsia discussed accessibility projects for train stations and inclusive transport.
They also discussed the preparation of a guide titled «Barrier-Free in Financial Services: A Practical Handbook», created with the support of several banks and the National Bank. The goal of this guide is to improve access to financial services for individuals with special needs.
A separate panel discussion focused on the «Movement Without Barriers» program by the Ministry of Community Development, which aims to adapt public transport stops and other important facilities for people with disabilities.
The First Lady emphasized that barrier-free initiatives should not be competitive but a collaborative effort for businesses.
Olena Zelenska also shared her recent visit to Japan, where innovative solutions for barrier-free navigation, such as tactile pathways, were developed after the war.
«This demonstrates that even during reconstruction, there is room for implementing barrier-free solutions. I am confident that humanity ultimately prevails, both in defense and in business,» concluded Olena Zelenska.
