TOUCHPOINT. State program for training, rehabilitation and support of people who have lost their sight as a result of war

TOUCHPOINT. State program for training, rehabilitation and support of people who have lost their sight as a result of war

Donor: The UK Government

Coordinating partners: The World Health Organization Office in Ukraine together with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine

Project implementation dates: January 01 – March 31, 2024 – the 1st phase of the project

July 01, 2024 – February 28, 2025 – the 2nd phase of the project

Project implementers and partners:

  • Advisor – Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment;
  • Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
  • Blind Veterans UK;
  • Educational and Rehabilitation Center “Levenia” (the Lion cub), Lviv;
  • Public Union “All-Ukrainian League of Organizations of People with Visual Impairments “Modern View”
  • NGO “Trinity hub”

Total budget: Phase 1: $197,810

Phase 2: $549,043

Project goal: Development and piloting of state program for training, rehabilitation and supporting people who have lost their sight as a result of war as well as preparation of the basis for state funding and implementation of rehabilitation and support services for such people.

Project target groups:

  • persons who have lost their sight as a result of war;
  • their family members/accompanying persons;
  • professionals of various specialties.

Main project activities

  • Piloting educational and rehabilitation program for people who have lost their sight as a result of war and their families/accompanying persons.
  • Development of mechanisms/algorithms for continuous support (including remote support) at the place of residence for people who have lost their sight as a result of war and their families/accompanying persons to adapt to new living conditions which will include emotional, instructional and mentoring support with support on a peer-to-peer basis.
  • Piloting mechanisms/algorithms of continuous support (including remote support) at the place of residence for people who have lost their sight and their families/accompanying persons to adapt to new living conditions which will include emotional, instructional and mentoring support with support on a peer-to-peer basis.
  • Preparation of a “package of services for rehabilitation and support for people with visual impairments as a result of war” for state funding which will include a description and cost estimate of services.

Results:

  • The training and adaptation program has been developed and piloted;
  • 27 veterans, 1 civilian woman with vision loss and 28 accompanying persons have received training under this program;
  • Veterans were provided with modern gadgets which will help them be more independent in social and everyday orientation, communication etc.;
  • The support program at the place of residence has been developed and piloted;
  • 2 methodological guides have been developed for specialists who provide services to people with sight loss;
  • 4 main basic services for teaching people with vision loss were described;
  • The tool has been developed to calculate the cost of basic services at different stages of the path of a person with sight loss (from the hospital to the community);
  • There was a study trip of six Ukrainian experts to the UK;
  • The UK experience has been adapted to the Ukrainian realities.

Contact: Maryna Varban, Project manager, Varban@aph.org.ua

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