Solutions from Ukraine: Vinnytsia releases video highlighting inclusive practices within the city

Vinnytsia has released a video about developing various areas of barrier-free city. Among the topics covered in the video are audio descriptions for people with visual impairments, adaptation of streets and public transport for representatives of low-mobility groups, social taxi service for people with disabilities, provision of services in sign language, and several other important initiatives.

The Department of Marketing and Tourism of the Vinnytsia City Council reported that.

The results of the Ninth All-Ukrainian Municipal Survey by the International Republican Institute IRI show that Vinnytsia has once again taken the top spot in the rating of accessibility for people with disabilities. This is a testament to the more than 20 years of collaborative efforts between the community, government, and businesses in creating a barrier-free environment within the city.

In 2002, Raisa Panasiuk, a prominent figure and the founder of the NGO "Harmony," took the lead in initiating this process. She was also the government commissioner for the rights of people with disabilities. Her main goal was to improve the living conditions for individuals with limited mobility in the city. Eventually, the city council supported this initiative, which led to implementing the new city program "Vinnytsia – a city convenient for all."

Now, Vinnytsia has implemented many solutions focused on the needs of people with limited mobility. Here, one of the first in Ukraine to introduce elements of physical accessibility:

• Kassel curbs,
• Vienna stops,
• tactile tiles.

Low-floor public transport runs on the routes (its share is currently 60%), and the number of ramps, lifts, and lowered entrances in various institutions is increasing.

Businesses also play a role in the social reintegration of injured military personnel and civilians and tailor their services to meet their needs. They provide accessible entrances, inclusive restrooms, and hotel rooms, among other accommodations. Since 2007, the city has been managing the "Harmony" rehabilitation center, which aids in physical and social rehabilitation, as well as training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the center offers a free social taxi service.

"If we compare, in 2002, people with disabilities could be seen only a few times in Vinnytsia: they did not have the opportunity to leave the house, cross the street, or use public transport. Now people with disabilities are visible because there are more opportunities to work and move around the city," Liudmyla Netskina, the head of the board of the NGO "Harmony," said.

In recent years, the city of Vinnytsia has seen a rise in the popularity of inclusive excursions catering to mothers with strollers, individuals with disabilities, and veterans from local rehabilitation institutions.

"When I had my second child and started my own tour business, I created the first stroller-friendly excursion for mothers. As time passed, we also welcomed individuals in wheelchairs to join our tours. When the war started, the feeling of needing to be in the company of others became even stronger. That's how our inclusive excursions for those in rehabilitation for injuries sustained at the front were born. These tours allowed them to experience the outside world and be a part of the city, showing them that life continues," Tetiana Rybak said.

Vinnytsia always strives to improve in various areas, with its own City Accessibility Program, Accessibility Council, and a commission dedicated to inspecting facilities and providing recommendations for increasing accessibility in institutions. This effort extends beyond physical accessibility and encompasses informational, digital, civic, educational, and economic barriers in all aspects of life. Ultimately, the goal is to create a community where everyone can move, access information, learn, work, and enjoy leisure activities.

"An inclusive city is a place where diversity is perceived as a value, and the opportunity for everyone to realize their potential is a guarantee of the development of the entire community," Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia Vladyslav Skalsky said.

The video about inclusive practices currently operating in Vinnytsia presents only a tiny but very important part of them:

• audio description in the Vinnytsia Regional Theater named after M. Sadovsky;
• inclusive coffee shop "Kulbabka," where baristas work in wheelchairs;
• art space, "EthnoChary," with pottery workshops for people with visual impairments;
• social taxi service for people with disabilities;
• sign language in the Administrative Services Center;
• low-floor public transport and Kassel curbs at stops;
• inclusive excursions.

The video can be viewed at the link.

For reference:

Rubryka recently featured Maryna Lytovchenko, who achieved remarkable success at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, becoming a champion in Tokyo and a vice-champion in Paris. She is also a graduate of the "Leader" school for women with disabilities, which focuses on promoting political participation, offered by the Fight For Right NGO. In a recent interview, she shared her reflections on her accomplishments and her aspirations for the future. To learn more about this inspiring athlete, read Rubryka's article, "Breaking barriers: Maryna Lytovchenko's journey from Paralympic glory to empowering women with disabilities."