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NAPD News

2025 Results: From Humanitarian Aid to Sustainable Community Change

“Bringing Support Closer to People”: How Ivankiv Community Strengthened Rehabilitation and Social Services for Persons with Disabilities

NAPD, in partnership with IOM and with funding from AECID, implemented a set of initiatives in the Ivankiv community within the framework of the project “Improving Access to Quality Multidisciplinary Physical Rehabilitation and Integration of Persons with Disabilities in the Ivankiv Community.”

Throughout the project period, we have managed to make several systemic steps in parallel: strengthening the competencies of medical teams, providing practical tools for social workers, consolidating information on available services in one place, and improving the accessibility of community facilities and services, particularly for people with limited mobility.

At this stage, NAPD is completing its project component and transferring to the community the developed tools, recommendations, and practices.
Learn more about the project results on our website

🌿Inclusive VET Project Launched in Ukraine within Skills4Recovery

On 16 December 2025, the online launch of the project “Inclusive Vocational Education and Training (VET): Improving Training for Veterans and People with Disabilities” took place within the Multidonor Initiative Skills4Recovery. The event brought together representatives of vocational education and training (VET) providers from different regions of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the State Employment Service, international organizations, and civil society.

russia’s full-scale invasion has dramatically increased the number of people with disabilities, including combat veterans and civilians who have suffered injuries and trauma. In this context, the vocational education and training system is facing a new challenge – to be ready to admit, support, and provide quality education to learners with different types of disabilities, including psychosocial disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new project aims to address these challenges

The project “Inclusive Vocational Education and Training (VET): Improving Training for Veterans and People with Disabilities” is being implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD), jointly with Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. (CBM), with financial support from the European Union, Germany, Poland, Estonia, and Denmark as part of the Skills4Recovery Multi-Donor Initiative, which is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL).

A Two-Day Training on “Strengthening the Veteran Movement in Advocacy Processes” Held in Kyiv

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On 17–18 December 2025, NAPD conducted the training “Strengthening the Veteran Movement in Advocacy Processes” in Kyiv. The event took place within the project “Together We Are Powerful: Building the Capacity of NGOs of People with Disabilities,” implemented by NAPD in cooperation with the humanitarian organization “People in Need” and with financial support from the people of the Czech Republic.

Over two days, the participants worked with practical tools – how to strengthen veteran organizations, shape positions, communicate in the language of solutions, and translate community requests into concrete steps for change, both locally and at the policy level.

A dedicated section of the programme focused on an open discussion about the everyday challenges faced by veterans: housing guaranteed by law but often inaccessible in practice,
education benefits trapped within bureaucracy, pension and social protection issues that create a sense of unfairness, and medical care and rehabilitation systems lacking qualified specialists and clear support pathways.

Acting Together – Growing Together: Highlights from NAPD Training Camp

Needs of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly in Humanitarian Assistance and Winterization Preparedness

A NAPD study examining the needs of persons with disabilities, children and youth with disabilities, elderly people, and IDPs with disabilities regarding preparation for the winter period during the wartime.
The material highlights key gaps in the accessibility and targeting of support, especially in rural and frontline communities, and identifies priority demands: medicines and medical supplies, warm clothing and heating, support during electricity and heating outages, as well as clear and accessible information on how to obtain assistance.

👉 Read more on the NAPD website

Information that Leads to Action: Ivankiv Community Improves Service Accessibility through Training and Informational Materials

In partnership between NAPD and IOM, a series of six informational booklets has been developed. They are already being distributed among community residents and used during consultations on:

• How to access rehabilitation services (download)
• How to obtain social services (download)
• How to obtain assistive rehabilitation devices (download)
• Employment: rights and steps (download)
• Where and what services are available in Ivankiv community (download)
• Key steps for disability assessment and registration (download).

Each booklet serves as a “roadmap”: where to apply, where to start, which documents to prepare, and what to do next.

The project is implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and with funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

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NAPD Member Organisations Inform

“I Have Done It — and You Can Do It Too”: Workshops by Oleksandr Tereshchenko

Amputation often divides a person’s life into two periods: “before” and “after.”
Oleksandr Tereshchenko, one of the defenders of Donetsk Airport known as the “Cyborgs,” who lost his entire right arm and the left hand in battle, emphasizes that such injuries are not a sentence. As proof, he cites his own experience – how he developed technical devices to adapt to everyday life and how he successfully shares this knowledge with others.

At the press conference “Life After Amputations: From Motivational Slogans to Practical Solutions” held at the Ukrinform news agency, the Oleksandr Tereshchenko International Charitable Foundation presented the results of the project “Peer-to-Peer: Supporting Veterans with Amputations.”

Right to Rehabilitation: In Odesa, the NGO “Modern Perspective” carried out a series of activities within the initiative “Together We Can Do More: Space for Accessibility and Support”

In December, during the Month of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a series of activities took place in Odesa at the V.P. Filatov State Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy within the initiative “Together We Can Do More: Space for Accessibility and Support.”
The events were organized by the NGO “Modern Look” with support from the Danish Association of the Blind, the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted, and the World Blind Union.

The activities took place on 4 and 5 December 2025 and aimed to develop a systemic approach to rehabilitation, increase the accessibility of services, and promote barrier-free environments for people with visual impairments – including veterans and the military who have lost their health as a result of hostilities, large-scale shelling, and prolonged exposure to stress.

Breaking Stereotypes

When Barriers Disappear, Society Gains More Opportunities to Grow

This year reminds us that an inclusive society does not emerge on its own. It begins with equal opportunities, accessibility, and a simple understanding that every person has the right to live with dignity and contribute to the development of their community.

This video shares personal stories.
Our protagonists speak from experience – focusing not on limitations, but on their choice to live actively, boldly, and on their own terms.

When barriers disappear, society gains more opportunities to grow.

This material became possible through the generous support of the American people, provided through the United States Government.
The content is the sole responsibility of the Momentum Wheels for Humanity and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government.

A Story from Practical Experience

When women with disabilities and mothers of children with disabilities discover their inner strength, the world around them begins to change

🌟Financial Support for Treatment: Assistance to a Family Preparing for Surgery

Financial support for treatment has become for a family preparing for surgery not just a one-time intervention, but a real “bridge” toward a timely solution – when every date and every opportunity matters.

The story highlights the family’s experience and the context in which this assistance helps cover critical expenses related to preparing for surgery, easing the burden that so often falls on relatives at the most difficult moment.

This publication demonstrates how targeted support delivers tangible results: helping a family stay focused on what matters most – treatment and recovery – while ensuring they are not left to face the challenge alone.

First Aid Training for Women with Disabilities and Mothers of Persons with Disabilities

As part of the project implemented with the technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and financed by the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), we conducted an important and highly practical first aid training for women with disabilities and mothers who care for persons with disabilities.
The event formed part of our broader efforts to strengthen safety, self-organization, and resilience among women in communities, in line with the principle of “Nothing about us without us!”

During the training, the participants learned how to act in critical situations: how to correctly assess the condition of an injured person, stop bleeding, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and provide assistance in cases of trauma or loss of consciousness.
Instructors from the Ukrainian Red Cross Society adapted the practical exercises to diverse needs, ensuring full inclusivity, accessibility, and safe participation conditions.

From the Editors

Every new project, every meeting, and every story brings us closer to equal opportunities for all. We are launching this digest to keep you informed of the changes around us, share news, and support those who foster inclusion in Ukraine every day.

Read, join, and share – together we are stronger 💙💛