Inclusive Rooms for Youth in Wheelchairs at Lviv Boarding School
For the first time in Lviv region, a boarding-type institution has been equipped with special rooms where young people using wheelchairs will live together with peer assistants. These rooms were created in the LOR institution ‘Rozdilsky Children’s Home – Boarding School’. Here, the boys will learn to take care of themselves in everyday life and acquire professions to become as self-sufficient as possible. We aim to scale this experience to other institutions in the future.
New Opportunities for Development
In addition to these rooms, the house now has an inclusive development room where residents can learn through games and creativity, a sensory room for relaxation and alternative communication, a classroom, and interactive corridors that promote motor skill development. On the second floor, the electrical wiring was updated, windows and doors were replaced, restrooms were renovated, and a modern notification, video surveillance, and fire alarm system was installed.
- Over 17 million UAH from the regional budget were directed towards the repair, reconstruction, and furnishing of the institution, and an additional 5 million UAH was raised from benefactors.
- The Rozdilsky boarding school provides permanent residence for boys and men aged 4 to 35 years with developmental disabilities and mental disorders requiring care. Currently, there are 66 residents from Lviv region and 16 internally displaced persons residing there.
- This year, we plan to establish five modular houses for supported living for residents with assistants, create an inclusive playground, and establish a number of new partnerships.
Support and Gratitude
Thank you to all the staff, the head of the institution’s supervisory board Oleksandra Yanovych for incorporating the best international experience and love into the transformation process of this house. Grateful to Tom McEnaney, the Irish organization Effective Aid Ukraine, and all partners involved in the reconstruction and enhancement of the material and technical base. Since 2022, more than 200 million UAH have been allocated from the regional budget for the renovation of institutions providing social stationary care services. More to come. Disability is a challenge, but certainly not a sentence. Lviv region must become a region of equal opportunities for all.