Victories of Ukrainian Paralympians should be transformed into an effective state policy for people with disabilities – Valeriy Sushkevych

Significant achievements of Ukrainian Paralympians should be transformed into an effective state policy for people with disabilities. In particular, this applies to the issue of rehabilitation through sports and physical activity, the abolition of which may soon be approved by the parliament.

This was emphasized by Valeriy Sushkevych, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, at a press conference at the Media Center Ukraine.

“Let us turn the victory of Ukrainian Paralympians, athletes with disabilities, into an understanding of the rights of these people, citizens of Ukraine, in our country. Without legs, without arms, with cerebral palsy, blind, visually impaired, with amputations, in wheelchairs – they are able to fight for this country, they raise the Ukrainian flag despite their disabilities. Let’s think about their rights and the need for support, the need for efficient use of funds to implement state policy for them, to preserve their rights, to support social policy. And let’s do it on the basis of the fact that Ukrainian Paralympians, Ukrainian people with disabilities, have united the world around Ukraine through their victory in world sports. Let’s turn this understanding into an effective state policy for people with disabilities,” Sushkevych said.

He stressed the importance of rehabilitation through sports and physical activity, noting that its abolition is unacceptable today.

“For more than a year and a half, the Ukrainian Parliament has been voting on the draft law No. 5344-d, which proposes to abolish  rehabilitation through sports and physical activity. I am grateful to the deputies that they have not yet adopted this law. In August, during the Paralympics, it was on the agenda. To eliminate rehabilitation through sports and physical activity – do you understand what this means? I’ve been told that this bill is going to be passed this year… This is the current state of sports for people with disabilities. I’m in a wheelchair, my spine is injured, my legs don’t work, and my hands are affected, but I’m a full citizen, a member of parliament, a hero of Ukraine, and I work on the implementation of state policy for people with disabilities. I fight for the rights of disabled people. And today, together with our Paralympians, we have won a victory for Ukraine,” emphasized Valeriy Sushkevych.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news