III Regional Conference: Culture Without Barriers in Ukraine
April 3 at the International Cultural Center UNION hosted the III Regional Conference «Odessa. Culture Without Barriers», dedicated to World Autism Awareness Day. The event was organized by the Department of International Cooperation, Culture, and Marketing of the Odessa City Council in collaboration with state and regional cultural partners.
Among the participants was Ivanna Demirova, a teacher from the Bolgrad Music School, who is a co-author of the textbook «Inclusive Environment» — an anthology of pedagogical practices for arts school educators, reports Rayon.Bolgrad.
«Today marked the end of a wonderful day filled with colleagues' experiences, engaging work, and amazing people! The conference was very enriching, meaningful, and absolutely essential for all participants! Thank you to everyone for their warmth, sincerity, and for sharing the most valuable thing — your own experiences», — shared Ivanna Demirova.
Conference in the Context of the Year of Accessibility
2025 has been declared the Year of ACCESSIBLE SPACE in Ukraine, and the conference «Culture Without Barriers» became a crucial step in implementing this initiative in the Odessa region. The aim of the event was to create an accessible cultural space, promote inclusive solutions, and exchange experiences in working with children with special educational needs (SEN), particularly those on the autism spectrum.
Participants discussed various topics:
-
principles of physical, digital, social, and educational accessibility;
-
access to cultural services for people with disabilities;
-
socialization and arts education for children with SEN;
-
mental health of children and youth during wartime;
-
organizational and methodological work of cultural institutions.
As part of the conference, there was also an exhibition of ceramic works from the inclusive workshop of the NGO «Every One Matters», which served as a vivid example of art as a tool for inclusion and self-expression.
