By focusing on barrier-free economic support programmes, actively engaging communities and opinion leaders on barrier-free issues, the Government is making efforts to create an adaptive environment and opportunities for all people across the country. This was stated by Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, at the presentation of public opinion research on barrier-free accessibility. The event brought together Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and representatives of the ministries responsible for implementing the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine.
The study was conducted by the Research Centre for Social and Economic Behaviour with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Barrier-Free Communications Council, using the methodology and analytics of the Advanter Group and Gradus research.
According to the study, a significant proportion of the population recognises the need for social change in the areas of employment, education and access to infrastructure. Respondents say that attention should be focused on changing people’s behaviour (34% of respondents), creating an adapted environment (32%) and ensuring access to education and jobs (22%).
According to the First Deputy Prime Minister, grant programmes under eRobota are only one element of the National Strategy aimed at barrier-free access. The Work Without Barriers project combines a number of programmes: compensation for the arrangement of workplaces for people with disabilities, grant programmes, including a new component – the Create Women’s Entrepreneurship Grant. The programme also includes vouchers for free training at vocational education centres, which have been used by more than 10,000 people, including half a thousand people with disabilities.
In addition, the Ministry of Economy has a number of other projects, including collaborations with the private and public sectors – DostupnoUA, Superhumans, WorkUa, Projector and Insience. The ministry also holds meetings with businesses, opinion leaders, and NGOs to support the barrier-free policy.
“The Government’s initiatives are aimed at rebuilding the country following the Build Back Better principle, which means we need to not only restore the country but also build new approaches. We need to make all spaces accessible, enable inclusion to become a social norm and ensure that society does not have prejudices based on gender, professional or any other grounds, whether in the workplace or in everyday communication,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko. (Government portal)