Thread by @InclusionIntl

🔴 We're LIVE! Join @InclusionEurope and @InclusionIntl to discuss the impact of #war on people with intellectual disabilities in #Ukraine.

We'll be live-tweeting the session and sharing key points from the discussion here, follow this thread to catch the conversation!
👇

https://twitter.com/InclusionIntl/status/1537085237036974080

Since the start of the Russian war in #Ukraine, people with disabilities have been among the most at risk of being harmed and left behind of the emergency aid measures.

260,000 people with intellectual disabilities are in Ukraine - most of them living with their families.

There are also tens of thousands of of people in institutions in #Ukraine. heir situation is still uncertain. They are at a greater risk of being abandoned or affected by military attacks.

During this side-session, Ukrainian organizations of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families and organisations providing support to the Ukrainians refugees with intellectual disabilities and their families will share experiences and present solutions.

.@Soufianeelamr17 of @InclusionEurope introduces the #COSP15 side session:

"When the Russian war on #Ukraine started,
we watched in shock and disbelief. We felt shock and disbelief as the war unfolded, with all its horrible destruction of human lives, of cities and villages"

.@Soufianeelamr17 of @InclusionEurope introduces the #COSP15 side session:

"When the Russian war started, people with intellectual disabilities and their families were in a very bad situation to start with. For most, it was impossible to escape from the war"

.@Soufianeelamr17 of @InclusionEurope introduces the #COSP15 side session:

"They were scared to go outside. They could not go to bomb shelters because those were not accessible. They have little access to food and medicines"

.@Soufianeelamr17 of @InclusionEurope:

"We heard little about humanitarian agencies reaching out and helping people with disabilities. That has been a huge disappointment given how much money they get to help people. And how often many of them talk about “diversity & inclusion”

.@Soufianeelamr17 @InclusionEurope:
"We cannot allow this to happen. People with intellectual disabilities and their families in Ukraine need our support. Humanitarian help must reach people with intellectual disabilities & their families.
This includes those in institutions"

.@Soufianeelamr17 @InclusionEurope:

"Refugees with disabilities need better support in EU countries.

Disability-status recognition, accessible accommodation, education, jobs"

.@Soufianeelamr17 @InclusionEurope:
"Ukrainians with intellectual disabilities and their families need our support to build a better future for themselves.
The international community must support disability-inclusive reconstruction. Community-based support, accessible housing"

.@Soufianeelamr17 @InclusionEurope:
"The Ukrainian government needs to reform to legal capacity laws, and other relevant rules and policies to stop restricting people’s rights"

.@Soufianeelamr17 @InclusionEurope:

"Providing accessible information on humanitarian help, and all other measures.

Involve and consult with people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

But first and foremost,
Russia must end its horrible war on #Ukraine"

Emmanuelle Grange of @EU_Commission:

"Persons with intellectual disability and their families are facing disproportionate risk of abandonment, violence, death, and lack of access to safety, relief, and support"

Emmanuelle Grange of @EU_Commission:

"This panel is a useful forum to exchange on experience of this terrible war for people with intellectual disabilities and their families in #Ukraine – this is a very specific topic that can not be forgotten"

Raisa Kravchenko of @inclusionUA:

"Our network of 118 local organizations and agencies for people with intellectual disabilities in #Ukraine were supported more than any other national network or disability group, thanks to @InclusionEurope"

Raisa Kravchenko of @inclusionUA:

"When this started, #Ukrainians with intellectual disabilities were on the weak side because support from public funds is determined by official diagnosis & a biological approach to disability - psychiatry is gate keeping types of support"

Raisa Kravchenko of @inclusionUA:

"No community based services, no reform in legal capacity and guardianship, no supported employment, and no cancelling of institutionalization" #Ukraine

Raisa Kravchenko of @inclusionUA:

"On the 7th of March, a special decree was taken by our cabinet ministers on the intake into institutions for people with legal incapacity. If the person has no guardian, he or she is taken into an institution on the same day"

Raisa Kravchenko of @inclusionUA:

"This just means more money into institutions - this money cannot be used in community services or into foster family care, it is strengthening #institutionalization"

Yuliia Klepets on @inclusionUA on what we need to rebuild:

We need information in easy read - people with intellectual disabilities need municipal workers to be aware and use simple language. They need to be well trained and aware.

Yuliia Klepets on @inclusionUA on what we need to rebuild:

We need special procedures for consultation in accessible language - public agencies never ask us what we need.

Yuliia Klepets on @inclusionUA on what we need to rebuild:

"The Ukrainian economy is in shambles, the military needs have pushed the needs of people intellectual disabilities to side. Ukrainians with intellectual disabilities are under constant threats to their lives"

Yuliia Klepets on @inclusionUA on what we need to rebuild:

Other pressing needs caused by the war include supported living and accommodation to prevent an influx into institutions and support for NGOs that provide services in the community in #Ukraine

.@misver of @InclusionEurope:

"We continue to carry your messages, and talk to the world about what needs to be done to improve the situation in Ukraine"

Risto Burman of @tukiliitto:

"For Ukrainian refugees in Finland, the situation is much different than those who have a land border with Ukraine. There are about 30,000 refugees, and we decided to help by sending money"

Risto Burman of @tukiliitto:

"We started our own national fundraising campaign - the majority of the money we have raised for #Ukraine we can have sent through @InclusionEurope, and some through POSNI to help the huge numbers of refugees there"

.@misver of @InclusionEurope:

"Beyond financial support, it is also important that organizations are involved in speaking about the situation of people with intellectual disabilities in #Ukraine and making sure they are visible in public spaces"

Peter Berns of @TheArcUS:

"After the invasion started, we started hearing from around the country asking how people could help - there is an outpouring of compassion and concern for the Ukrainian people"

Peter Berns of @TheArcUS:

"The Arc is a family organization, and were very concerned about families of people with intellectual disabilities in #Ukraine. We saw the efforts of the UN & Red Cross but no one was really targeting assistance to people with intellectual disabilities"

Peter Berns of @TheArcUS:

"We set on a path to crate a channel that would allow people to get money to #Ukraine to support families - we found our way through @InclusionIntl and @InclusionEurope to connect with @inclusionUA to get money to those organizations on the ground"

Peter Berns of @TheArcUS:

"We set up The Arc Ukraine Relief Fund - a lot of our chapters pushed it out to their networks. We are funnelling this money to VGO Coalition in #Ukraine @inclusionUA and are trying to everything we can to support families in the Ukraine"

Dana Migaliova, President of Viltis in Lithuania:

"When the war started, our first call was to Ukraine. Our second call was to @InclusionEurope about how to help. We needed to collect information about the Ukrainian organizations and how to share the needs with other charities"

Dana Migaliova, President of Viltis in Lithuania:

"People needed a lot of support, people who don't have the flexibility to get out of Ukraine. We started to organize interviews, protests, fundraising, and more. We continue to raise funds and we are not stopping."

Dana Migaliova, President of Viltis in Lithuania:

"People in Ukraine don't know what tomorrow will be, how long they will need to stay outside, or what the future will be"

Dana Migaliova, President of Viltis in Lithuania:

"What next? Houses are destroyed, we know that the population has been left without medicine, 50,000 refugees are in Lithuania. How can we support people in Ukraine to access to social services, houses?"

Dana Migaliova, President of Viltis in Lithuania:

"Yes inviting #Ukraine to the European Union will help put on pressure, but what about now? What about the mothers, sisters, people living in institutions?"

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova shares how Keystone has been delivering social care services to refugees with disabilities in Moldova.

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova:

Keystone Moldova has been working to develop and provide quality community based care services for persons with intellectual disabilities and mental health.

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova:

"In Moldova, there wasn't a lot expertise on how to work in emergency settings. We started to advocate for a task force on disability under the protection mechanism with UN agencies and INGOs, and Keystone now leads this task force"

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova:

"This helped us to advocate for inclusion of persons with disabilities, due to our advocacy for example they have developed mobile services to support person with disabilities to access financial resources"

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova: "During the first two weeks of the crisis, we provided hot meals for refugees at the border - it was an immediate response service. Keystone also provides hotline services for a complaint mechanism for people with disabilities"

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova: "We developed a comprehensive database on existing services for all ages with disabilities, as well as implementing a communications campaign to increase awareness of this"

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova: "In Moldova, 95% of refugees live with host families. Psychological support and counselling services and healthcare services are available"

Ludmila Malcoci of @KeystoneMoldova - we need data on persons with disabilities, we need adapted and accessible transportation and accommodation. People from Ukraine come and do not have access to medication or diagnostic services"

Adam Zawisny or PSONI in Poland:

"From the first days of the war, first we were staggered by the numerous and complex needs. One example - a mother who uses a wheelchair with a child with an intellectual disabilities and autism with two pets called us for help from the border"

Adam Zawisny or PSONI in Poland:

"Poland has 3 million refugees from Ukraine. It is unknown how many have disabilities, but it is probably 10-15%. People with intellectual disabilities were not in the first phase of refugees, they were left behind.

.@claurinbowie: "I add our voices to the thanks, appreciation, and admiration for @InclusionEurope for the work done in really difficult times to be able to respond to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities and families in #Ukraine"

.@claurinbowie: "Our network globally rises in solidarity when humanitarian crises happen, and this is because we are family led organizations. We know the impact, we know that people with intellectual disabilities and families get left behind and ignored"

.@claurinbowie: "We have heard stories of our member organizations working with their governments to link up families to refugee families of people with disabilities to provide support or help them navigate disability services" #Ukraine

.@claurinbowie: "What we have heard today demonstrates the importance of listening to the people who are themselves affected, and who are delivering support. It is their experience that will allow us to rebuild inclusively"

.@claurinbowie: "We have to fight the possibility that the investments to rebuild #Ukraine will be used in an way to building segregated #institutions. Money must be in the hands of people who know how to support people in the community"

.@misver of @InclusionEurope:

"We must ensure all of the money going into #Ukraine goes towards efforts to build a better future for people with intellectual disabilities and their families"

Thank you to our excellent moderator @misver @InclusionEurope and our speakers and panelists:

@Soufianeelamr17 @EU_Commission @KeystoneMoldova @TheArcUS @inclusionUA @tukiliitto and more!

Thank you to everyone for joining this important conversation on #Ukraine!

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