Accessibility concerns everyone. Because we all need a little more convenience, understanding, or support in different life situations.

We all face barriers. When we can't get somewhere with a stroller, a suitcase, or because of a health condition. When we can't find a job just because of our age or gender. The only difference between us is that some people face barriers from time to time, while others face them every day.

And we can all make the topic of accessibility understandable and accessible to everyone.

Accessibility is a social norm

Accessibility is about dignity and opportunity for everyone. It's about everyone feeling heard and part of society.

Accessibility is for everyone,
and for you personally

This is when you can do everything you need for a decent life.

Accessibility is when you can

The all-Ukrainian campaign for social change "Barrier-free is when you can" is being implemented in cooperation with UNICEF as part of the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska "Without Barriers" with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the state development bank KfW.

In 2021, at the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine for the Period Until 2030 was adopted. The document provides for the creation of a barrier-free space in Ukraine in six main areas:

• Social and civic accessibility , which involves ensuring equal opportunities for participation of all people and social groups in the life of communities and the state.
• Educational accessibility – creating equal opportunities and free access to education, including lifelong education.
• Economic accessibility – providing conditions and opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship for youth, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, etc.
• Information accessibility is the condition under which people, regardless of their functional impairments or communication capabilities, have access to information in various formats and using technologies that take into account their needs and capabilities.
• Physical accessibility is the creation of an environment in which public buildings and public spaces, transportation, and services are physically accessible to all social groups.
• Digital accessibility – ensuring access to information, communication, public and other online services for all social groups, including the elderly, people with disabilities, people living in rural areas, etc.

Read more about the components of accessibility and the removal of any barriers for different groups of people at all levels in the "Accessibility Handbook" : https://bf.in.ua/

We also recommend watching the educational series "Barrier-Free Literacy" on Diia.Digital Education, which will introduce viewers to the basic principles of barrier-free literacy using everyday life situations as an example.