Cooperation aimed at expanding opportunities for people with disabilities and war veterans is developing in Kamianets-Podilskyi. As part of the partnership between Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (KhNUIA) and the Kamianets-Podilskyi State Institute of Higher Education and Rehabilitation, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed in 2023.

One of the areas of cooperation involved introducing representatives of the partner institution to the work of the KhNUIA Bareer-Free Driving School. During a guided tour, the visitors learned about the facilities and conditions provided for training drivers with disabilities, the organisation of theoretical and practical instruction, as well as the specially adapted vehicle and training equipment.

The meeting was also attended by war veterans with lower-limb amputations. Among them was Andrii Liubimenko, who had previously completed training at the Bareer-Free Driving School. Drawing on his personal experience, he demonstrated that an adapted training system enables people with disabilities to develop driving skills and return to active and independent lives.

“For me, attending the driving school was an important step towards independence. The school takes into account the individual needs of people with disabilities and provides appropriate conditions for practical training. The instructors also help you confidently move through every stage of the process,” Andrii said.

Anastasiia Kushnir also shared her impressions of the driving school. Her sister, Viktoriia, had completed her training there, making the visit an opportunity for Anastasiia to see first-hand the conditions provided for both theoretical and practical driver training.

The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation and the guided tour marked another step towards strengthening partnership in the areas of accessibility, rehabilitation, and social inclusion of people with disabilities.

The experience of the KhNUIA Bareer-Free Driving School can contribute to creating new opportunities for the professional and social integration of veterans, women and men who have defended Ukraine, combatants and their families, as well as people with musculoskeletal impairments.

KNUIA Press Office