As part of National Accessibility Week, Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic: “Inclusivity. A City for People,” with the participation of government officials, educators, and students—future architects.
The event was dedicated to discussing current issues regarding the implementation of inclusivity principles, ensuring the accessibility of the built environment, and modern approaches to creating barrier-free spaces in urban areas.
During the meeting, Vasyl Teklyuk, Chief Architect of the Donetsk Region, spoke in detail about the foundations of state policy on accessibility, addressed specific challenges in implementing the concept of barrier-free spaces, and shared his own professional experience with the attendees.
Ivan Hovera, Chief Architect of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, shared practical aspects of the authorities’ work on creating an accessible environment. He highlighted the work carried out by the Horodenka, Kalush, and Nadvirna communities during the development of barrier-free route projects as part of the implementation of the flagship project of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, “Movement Without Barriers.”
The chief architects of the regions emphasized the importance of addressing issues of physical accessibility when designing buildings and structures in accordance with state building codes.
Sofia Bastron, a master’s student in the Department of Architecture and Design at Ivano-Frankivsk University, demonstrated a high level of knowledge and active interest in the topic of architectural accessibility in the urban environment in her presentation.
Andriy Andrusyak, Associate Professor at the Department of Construction and Energy-Efficient Structures, informed the event participants about the university’s efforts to train specialists in the field of accessibility.
The roundtable served as a platform for professional dialogue, the exchange of experiences, and the development of a shared vision for the creation of an accessible environment in Ukraine. During the event, other issues were discussed, including general societal challenges related to accessibility, the prospects for training people with disabilities to operate vehicles at educational institutions, and more.