Identifying barriers in various aspects of urban life and developing practical solutions for their removal is the goal of the expert groups of the Barrier-Free Council, established at the end of last year. The council is chaired by Odesa's mayor, Gennadiy Trukhanov. 

The groups comprise veterans, soldiers who lost limbs defending Ukraine, community representatives, and individuals with disabilities. Together with city authorities, they set the agenda for creating an inclusive environment in Odesa. 

«We involve actual space users in all processes. This effort has already yielded results: a new inclusive beach, a sports ground with specialized equipment, and other facilities are set to open. Schools are conducting Barrier-Free Lessons. Of course, our groups are also inspecting the city for accessibility to ensure that no area is overlooked,» said Oleksiy Morozov, head of the NGO «Barrier-Free» and deputy chair of the Barrier-Free Council. 

Together with city departments and services, the expert groups conduct on-site inspections of beaches, recreation areas, check route accessibility, and analyze public buildings for proper infrastructure. Following each inspection, the expert group identifies issues and provides recommendations that are presented to the Barrier-Free Council. 

«An accessible environment should be a norm, not a privilege. The consolidation of efforts from the city, civil sector, veterans, people with disabilities, and businesses is a sound strategy that has already proven effective. We are picking up pace and will continue to accelerate, as we understand the growing needs for inclusive spaces,» emphasized Odesa's mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov.