Round Table «Information Barrier-Free Space»
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On March 15, 2023 Round Table «Information Barrier-Free Space» was held on the basis of Pokotylivka library-branch for adults of the Communal institution «Public Library of the Vysoky Village Council» of Kharkiv region.
The event was held within the framework of the cooperation of the Information and Resource Center «Without Barriers» of the Scientific and Technical Library of NTU «KhPI» and Pokotylivka library-branch for adults of the Communal institution «Public Library of the Vysochan Village Council» of Kharkiv region.
The participants of the meeting discussed the current problems of library activities in wartime conditions, exchanged experience and presented the «Barrier-Free Handbook» to people with disabilities. They also discussed the priority tasks of the Plan of Events for 2023-2024 to create a barrier-free space.
The main directions for this period are the provision of barrier-free spaces, the accessibility of information for low-mobility social groups, in particular, people with disabilities: ♦ accessibility of information for persons with disabilities and IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons);
♦ access to educational services;
♦ remote access to information resources of the Scientific and Technical Library of NTU «KhPI»;
♦ open access to information of Pokotylivka library-branch for adults;
♦ psychological support in educational and cultural institutions.
In order to every person in Ukraine does not feel social exclusion and does not have barriers when performing their civil rights and this is the direction we are consolidating our efforts.
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine developed the project «Information without barriers». The goal of the project is to make public information such as announcements from the government, news, alerts about military threats, public services, etc. accessible to all social groups, in particular:
♦ people with visual and hearing impairments; ♦ people with cognitive impairments;
♦ people with post-traumatic stress disorder;
♦ elderly people;
♦ children.
Access to information is vital today, because air raid alerts, bomb shelter locations, and evacuation routes save lives. However, they do not save people in a critical situation, if a person cannot see, hear, or understand them.
We are different, very different, so we perceive information differently. Some have poor eyesight, some do not distinguish colors or see at all, some do not do hear, some not understand the Ukrainian language well. Anyone can be in a situation when, due to stress, it is difficult to understand complex definitions and formulations. To remove these artificial barriers, the project «Information without Barriers» was launched.
A barrier-free space means equality, accessibility and respect in human relationships. In order to all people can get the necessary information.
The national strategy for designing a barrier-free space was developed at the initiative of Olena Zelenska, The First Lady of Ukraine.
Currently, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has been developing the Action Plan on the Creation of a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine for the period 2023-2024. Barrier-free design decisions take into account three main factors — inclusiveness, energy efficiency and civil protection. Features of the Plan designing — the challenges of implementation during martial law, the importance of rethinking tasks and activities.
Hosts of the Round Table «Information Barrier-Free Space»: Samoilova Yuliia Fedorivna — Head of Pokotylivka library-branch for adults of the «Public Library of the Vysochan Village Council» of Kharkiv region; Novosyolova Svitlana Yuriivna — Head of the Information and Resource Center «Without Barriers», Head of the Sector of the Scientific and Technical Library of NTU «KhPI»; Liabakh Natalia Vasylivna — Leading Expert of the Information and Resource Center «Without Barriers», Head of the Sector of the Scientific and Technical Library NTU «KhPI».
