Today, the transformation of the inclusive education system in Ukraine is shifting from being merely a matter of establishing new institutions toward requiring tight synchronization between legislation, staff training, and community resources. Only through combining a teacher's professional competence with accessible local services does inclusion stop being a "special" educational setup and become a natural norm of life for every child. We sit down to discuss the achievements, shortcomings, and gaps in the field of inclusive services and education with Olena Vorotyntseva—PhD in Special Education, senior speech-language pathologist (highest category), certified master teacher at the "Yalynka" Uzhhorod Primary School, and Associate Professor at the Department of Speech Therapy and Innovative Technologies in Inclusion at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.

The first question might sound cliché, but for the sake of general understanding, it’s worth dotting the i's and crossing the t's. What exactly is inclusion? In education, daily life, facilities, and services…

To explain this, I would use the term "social inclusion." This is because a stereotype has already taken hold in our society that inclusion is solely related to education. In reality, inclusion is a whole philosophy, a worldview that recognizes the value of every human being and their right to be part of a community. It is based on the ideas of equality, justice, and the acceptance of diversity as the norm. In my view, your question pertains specifically to "social inclusion" as the process of engaging all members of society in full participation in its life—for example, in education, the economy, culture, the digital sphere…—regardless of social status or physical or mental characteristics. It’s not just about physical accessibility, but also about inclusion in social relationships. There is also a stereotype that inclusion is about disability, special needs, and exceptionality, and that you can put an equal sign between them. I want inclusivity to stop being exclusive so much that people no longer even pay special attention to it. I’d like inclusion to become "transparent," like air— it's just there, it is essential for everyone, everyone uses it, and yet it goes unnoticed. But to achieve this, there is still a lot to be done—both in the physical space and in our own minds.

To be more specific, in education, this refers to a system of educational services based on the principles of non-discrimination, respect for diversity, and the inclusion of all children and adults in the learning process. In daily life and services, it involves creating conditions that ensure accessibility to transportation, healthcare, cultural events, religious institutions, digital services, and infrastructure for people with special needs. I want to focus on the phrase "with special needs," because any of us can find ourselves in this "status" or "role" at any time. For instance, if you’ve forgotten your glasses at home, you can’t see the signs very well; if you’ve sprained or broken your leg, you’ve lost your usual "mobility"; or imagine a pregnant woman trying to climb the stairs to board a train—it’s just impossible!!! There are countless examples. Therefore, this isn’t just a topic for people with disabilities or other PRMs (persons with reduced mobility); it is for everyone. In society as a whole, inclusion means integrating people with disabilities and other special needs into all spheres of life so that they can realize their potential on an equal footing with others—for example, to vote and be elected, and to live in a society that doesn’t divide people into "ordinary" and "special." 

Read the full interview on the Zaholovok.com.ua information and analytical website (Zakarpattia. Pro Holovne / Transcarpathia. About What Matters).

This material was prepared as part of the project "Bridging Gaps for Resilience: Strengthening Social Cohesion, Peace, and Protection for Children and Youth in IDP and Host Communities in Ukraine," which is being implemented by the Charitable Organization "Charity Fund "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya" with the support of "terre des hommes Deutschland e.V." and funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.