For the team of the non-governmental organization Public Movement “Social Unity”, the International Week of the Deaf is a kind of milestone for interim results, an opportunity to evaluate our achievements and define new horizons.
For about 10 years, we have been working for people with hearing impairments, contributing to the creation of a barrier-free environment in Ukraine. During this time, we have implemented more than 40 projects at the local and national levels, advocated for the interests of deaf people in various institutions, and popularized modern digital services for connecting with sign language interpreters so that everyone who speaks sign language can communicate freely with others and receive services without communication restrictions.
At the initiative of our organization, deaf Ukrainians were provided with the opportunity to receive medical services with sign language interpretation.
We have also managed to prevent discrimination against deaf people and sign language interpreters in the issue of freedom to choose a sign language interpreter when performing notarial acts.
Every year, we are joined by partners, including businesses, government agencies, and public organizations, who join us in creating a barrier-free environment for people with hearing impairments. Dozens of pilot projects over the past few years have grown into fruitful and effective cooperation.
This year, we would like to highlight the following projects:
- “Barriers-free Foxtrot": One of the largest electronics and home appliances retailers in Ukraine has provided access to sign language interpreters in 20 stores across the country and online on its website. Foxtrot also introduced a loyalty program for the deaf community.
- Ukrzaliznytsia JSC: Software has been installed at 10 railway stations in Ukraine that allows people with hearing impairments to access a sign language interpreter 24/7. Translations of important messages are also available on high-speed trains and on station screens in Kyiv and Lviv..
- The ABC of Safety project: Together with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the Postcode Ukraine charitable foundation, we are creating videos that explain in sign language the algorithms for emergency situations, which is especially important during the war.
- An educational project supported by the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation: We raised awareness among people with hearing impairments about the assistance available to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. This project reached over 780,000 users.
- Metro Ukraine: Metro is working to create a barrier-free environment for the employment of deaf people, constantly training the team and implementing modern digital services to support barrier-free accessibility.
- FUIB Bank: a partner that cares about barrier-free business for people with hearing impairments, this year provided access to sign language interpreters in 25 branches of the bank.
- McDonald's: a company that, together with us, has made inclusion a part of its employer brand, actively implements accessibility and sign language interpretation of internal processes for its deaf employees.
- Master Zoo: the largest pet store chain in Ukraine is now available online for people with hearing impairments thanks to a specialized web widget for communicating with a sign language interpreter on the site.
- Glovo: Glovo provides employment opportunities for people with hearing impairments through the use of digital services for access to interpreters. Thus, Glovo's deaf employees can freely communicate with customers.
These are the most successful and interesting examples in recent times, but not all of them. We actively cooperate with the relevant ministries, for example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Thanks to this cooperation, deaf Ukrainians can receive consular services in their native sign language at 52 embassies and consulates of Ukraine in Europe.
We appreciate the contribution of each of our partners to the creation of an inclusive environment in Ukraine and are ready to help at all stages, with the solution of any state or business tasks that will contribute to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for deaf people.
We thank everyone who works with us to make Ukraine accessible and barrier-free!
Let's go forward together!
