Blog post based on stories published on the EDF website in October 2022.
Together with our partners, we have compiled a series of stories that have given us an insight into the barriers and difficulties faced by persons with disabilities and their families in surviving the war in Ukraine.
Escaping the war as children with disabilities
Nastia, a 5-year-old child from Kyiv, came to Krakow, Poland, in March, with her mom Iryna, her dad and her two sisters. Nastia has autism and is non-verbal, being able to use only a few words. The evacuation from Ukraine was difficult for her family: it was hard to explain the situation to the girls especially to Nastia. To this was compounded by the family’s concern that the little girl would be able to continue her speech therapy.
A pathway of support to find an accessible job in Latvia
In the middle of March 2022, Andrii and his wife were forced to flee their home in Dnipro. Both wheelchair users, the pair boarded a train to Poland, where they were later taken by volunteers to Latvia. After a tough journey and a complicated adaptation period, Andrii is now working as a technician at Schneider Electric which has adapted its new production lines following accessibility needs and welcomed Andrii as one of the first wheelchair users.
Refugees helping refugees
When the war started, Tetiana and her husband already knew that there were almost equal risks – to leave or stay. They are both in wheelchairs, making it impossible to enter the shelter or basement. Tetiana is the Authorized Government Official for the Rights of People with Disabilities in Ukraine. She continues to do her duties even though her daily priorities have changed.
Families reunited across borders
Iryna is a Ukrainian professional archer (a four-time Paralympian). She is the owner of many medals in competitions in her homeland and abroad, including the Paralympic Games. Irina’s story is the story of how she left Sniatyn, a small town in the Ivano-Frankivsk region to start a new life in Latvia and how she reunited with her son who lives in Dubai.
From Donetsk to Latvia
This is the story of residents from the Bakhmut psychoneurological house. Their way to Latvia was very difficult psychologically. All 141 people were very scared, they were especially afraid that they would be separated. Thanks to the Ukraine programme they were placed in 16 social care centers in Latvia where they got everything they needed.
Read the story of the residents of Bakhmut