Odesa is actively implementing new approaches to inclusion, showcasing a model of systematic efforts toward accessibility for everyone.

During the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Odesa City Council on February 27, the Barrier-Free Space Plan for 2025–2026 was officially approved. This document outlines a comprehensive transformation of the urban environment, including infrastructure, transport, education, leisure, and digital services.

This strategy aims to create a accessible environment for people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, and everyone facing barriers in their daily lives. It encompasses not only the adaptation of facilities but also the formation of a convenient system for movement and interaction within the city. The focus is on equal access to transport, information, communication, education, sports, rehabilitation, and other key areas.

The Barrier-Free Council oversees the implementation of the strategy, consisting of representatives from the city authorities, veterans, and NGOs, including people with disabilities.

«Odesa must be comfortable for everyone. We are elevating the issue of barrier-free access to a new level and integrating it into the strategic vision for the city's development,» emphasized Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov.

«We view barrier-free access as a comprehensive approach: convenient transport, safe crossings, well-thought-out stops, accessible infrastructure. These are not isolated solutions but a unified system that works for all — from people with disabilities to parents with strollers,» stressed Oleksiy Morozov, Deputy Head of the Barrier-Free Council.

In partnership with the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, the initiative «Movement Without Barriers» is being implemented. Its strategic significance is confirmed at the national level: on March 26, a meeting of the National Barrier-Free Council was held with the participation of Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska. Odesa has become one of the cities actively preparing projects in the fields of education, culture, and social services.

Particular attention is given to the project «North-South», which is one of the flagship routes within the Ministry's initiative «Barrier-Free Routes». Recently, part of this route was presented in Odesa to representatives of the ministry who traveled from Kyiv. It runs from the Peresyp district to the Administrative Services Center on Kosivska Street and will be part of a new system for accessible urban transportation.