Ukrainian companies and organizations have begun developing internal policies to support the integration of professionals with disabilities. Representatives from sectors including education, transport, housing and utilities, the automotive industry, public administration, and trade unions participated in the training “Together We Strengthen Business”, focused on designing and implementing inclusive workplace policies.

The training, held on 28 and 30 October, was developed and delivered by experts from the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine as part of the project "Creating an advisory system on the integration of persons with disabilities into the workplace". This initiative is supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) through two complementary projects:

• "ILO Support to Ukraine: Prevention of Labor Exploitation and Human Trafficking, Support for Entrepreneurship Development and Institutional Support for Social Partners"  (funded by the Government of Belgium)
• "Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery in Ukraine through Social Dialogue" (ILO)

Participants gained foundational knowledge on how to conduct a self-assessment of their enterprise’s readiness for inclusion, develop internal policies for employing persons with disabilities, and implement practical solutions to create safe, dignified, and accessible working environments.

“We help companies move from understanding inclusion to taking real action- from policy to team-level change. Inclusion is not just a formality; it’s a strategic asset. A company that implements inclusive policies becomes more resilient,” said Oksana Medvedska, Executive Director of the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine.

She emphasized that inclusion must become part of a company’s culture.

“When we talk about adapting workplaces, we’re not just referring to ramps- we’re talking about team attitudes. Enterprises that learn to work with diverse individuals become more competitive. This is already proven in practice.”

The first step in developing an inclusion policy is conducting a self-audit.

“We must honestly assess what prevents a company from being inclusive. Often, managers hesitate not due to lack of resources, but due to uncertainty about how to employ persons with disabilities,” Oksana Medvedska noted.

“Our goal is to ensure that inclusion policies are not just documents, but reflected in everyday actions. Barrier-free means not only physical accessibility, but psychological openness.”

During the training, participants were introduced to the “Together” online platform, developed by the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine with the support of the ILO. The platform offers checklists, training videos, sample policies, and document templates to help companies build internal support systems for employees with disabilities.

All participants received certificates of completion, and the Confederation offered tailored support to companies as they begin implementing inclusive policies.