Doświadczenia rodzin wychowujących dzieci z niepełnosprawnościami w warunkach ewakuacji do bezpiecznych obszarów w czasie wojny: wnioski z Ukrainy
Experiences of Families Raising Children with Disabilities in the Conditions of Evacuation to Safe Areas in Times of War: Lessons from Ukraine

Author(s): Olha Stoliaryk
Subject(s): Pedagogy
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: evacuation; war; armed conflict; internally displaced persons; a child with a disability
Summary/Abstract: The escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war, associated with the full-scale invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia, poses a threat to the life and safety of civilians. This is especially felt by vulnerable social groups, such as families raising children with disabilities who need regular medical and social support. Such social work clients had difficulties with evacuation to safe places due to the threat to life associated with the armed conflict, military operations, and extremist activities of the Russian occupiers. This study uses a qualitative methodology and aims to learn about the specific experiences of families raising a child with a disability who were forcibly evacuated from temporarily occupied territories or the front line as a result of war. In June-August 2023, semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of children with various disabilities. The results of the study show that a significant proportion of families who were forced to leave their place of residence faced difficulties related to the availability of information about their safety, obstacles in reaching safe places or shelter in the event of a rocket attack or shelling, the lack of specialized shelter that takes into account the needs of a child with a disability. Families also face obstacles during evacuation from war zones, transport of children with complex developmental disorders, availability of necessary services (medical assistance, technical means of supporting a child with developmental disorders, social support), deterioration of the social situation and mental well-being, lack of action plans in the event of situations threatening their life or health. The study draws attention to the need to improve the mechanisms of systemic social crisis support for families raising children with disabilities, in the process of their evacuation to safe places, taking into account their specific needs.

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