The active phase of the project «Ensuring Accessibility of Rehabilitation for Veterans in Vinnytsia» has started in Vinnytsia. It is being implemented by the Community Foundation «Podilska Hromada» in partnership with the Vinnytsia Regional Clinical Medical Rehabilitation Center. The goal of the project is to make the rehabilitation space convenient, safe, and understandable for veterans with various injuries. The initiative is being implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine and with financial support from the Japanese government.
Renovation work is currently underway in three wards and adjacent sanitary and hygiene rooms at the center. This is not a cosmetic renovation, but a complete redesign of the space, taking into account state building codes and universal design principles.
As part of the project, outdated structures are being dismantled, doorways are being widened, and sanitary facilities are being replaced with convenient and safe ergonomic solutions. At the same time, training is planned for medical workers on how to interact appropriately with people with disabilities and work in a barrier-free environment. Special attention will be paid to participation: veterans will take part in testing the renovated space to ensure that the solutions correspond to real-life experience.
An accessibility expert is involved at every stage of the work. She accompanies the process and helps to take into account details that often go unnoticed but are critical to a person's independence — from the height of the mixer tap to the placement of furniture in the ward.
«We strive to move away from isolated solutions and create a comprehensive, well-thought-out space where people feel dignified. It is important to understand that accessibility is not just a handrail in the toilet. It is an opportunity for a veteran to use the space independently after a serious injury without outside help. We take into account the smallest details: for example, the correct placement of the shower head and mixer relative to the seat so that a person can easily reach them. Our goal is to use common sense and accessibility standards to ensure that veterans have the right to quality medical services in comfortable conditions», – explains Lyudmila Netskina, an expert on accessibility and barrier-free design.
The project in Vinnytsia is part of a broader approach to the inclusive recovery of Ukraine. Cooperation between the local community, medical institutions, and international partners allows for the creation of standards that will serve as an example for other regions. After all, decent treatment and rehabilitation conditions are not a privilege, but a basic right of every veteran.
The project «Ensuring Accessibility of Rehabilitation for Veterans in Vinnytsia» is implemented by the Podil Community Foundation with the support of UNDP within the framework of the project «Supporting Inclusive Recovery to Ensure Sustainability and Security of People in Ukraine» with financial support from the Government of Japan.
