Oschadbank Has Supported the Regional Rollout of the “Language of Dignity” Standard in Vinnytsia

Oschadbank partnered with a special “Language of Dignity” event in Vinnytsia to mark the rollout of the State Language Standard called "Accessibility Terminology".

The standard unifies about 100 accessibility-related terms and defines vocabulary that should be phased out of official use. The terminology used therein is mandatory for official documentation, education, the legal sector, and public communications.

The standard was developed with the participation of experts from the Council of Europe, the “Recovery for All” (RFA) project, and UNESCO.

This event follows on from the ‘Without Barriers’ initiative launched by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. It is dedicated to adopting non-discriminatory language, which is intended to transform the culture of communication across the country. Oschadbank had earlier participated in the presentation of this standard in Kyiv.

The event was held on the initiative of the Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, with the support of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration and the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics. Representatives of public institutions, communities, experts, veterans, and the civil sector gathered to discuss the implementation of barrier-free principles in public environment.

For Oschadbank, supporting such initiatives is part of its systematic efforts to develop a barrier-free environment. As part of the “My Accessibility” program, the Bank has implemented a unified algorithm for servicing people with disabilities, customers with limited mobility, and veterans. Starting in 2024, all Oschadbank employees undergo online accessibility awareness training.

“For Oschadbank, barrier-free communication is integral to our culture. We regularly train our employees and share our best practices with companies and institutions that also seek to implement accessibility standards. Language shapes the environment, so it is crucial to develop a culture of barrier-free communication,” said Anton Tiutiun, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Oschadbank, in charge of retail business.

As part of National Accessibility Week, Oschadbank conducted a corporate accessibility awareness survey, with 68% of employees participating. 96% of respondents agreed that inclusive standards are an integral part of service, and 98.4% stated they are willing to assist customers in situations involving barriers, regardless of whether it falls beyond their scope of duties.

In addition to internal programs, Oschadbank is implementing a nationwide series of training sessions “Accessibility: Proper Communication” for employees of local government bodies and government agencies. The project has already reached several regions of Ukraine and aims to build a network of local trainers to promote inclusive standards.