Accessibility must become the standard in healthcare, education, transportation, employment, public services, and communication: Yulia Svyrydenko

A meeting of the Accessibility Council was held today with First Lady Olena Zelenska in attendance. The Government continues to implement the Accessibility Strategy and the Action Plan for 2025–2026. Accessibility must become the standard in healthcare, education, transportation, employment, public services—and in communication as well. This was emphasized by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.

According to the Head of Government, special attention has been paid to barrier-free language: “We have designated 2026 as the Year of Barrier-Free Language. As part of this initiative, training sessions on barrier-free communication are already underway for public officials, teachers, students, and professional communities. We continue to develop a community of accessibility ambassadors at the national and local levels.”

Yulia Svyrydenko noted that Ukraine’s first national standard, “Terminology of Accessibility,” was unveiled in March as part of Olena Zelenska’s “Without Barriers” initiative. It establishes a unified approach to accurate and non-discriminatory communication in government, education, and the media.

“A person cannot be defined by their injuries, diagnoses, or statuses. A person is, first and foremost, an individual. State communication is built around this principle,” the Prime Minister emphasized. 

Yulia Svyrydenko thanked the ministries that are already systematically implementing the principles of barrier-free communication. Among the leaders are the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development.