Oschadbank is Rolling Out an Accessibility Training Program: A Training Session for Utility Company Employees Was Held in Ternopil

Oschadbank is carrying on its large-scale training program for the public sector: a two-day training session called “Accessibility. Proper Communication” was held in Ternopil on April 16-17 for representatives of local government bodies and government agencies. The event was aimed at developing a culture of inclusiveness and implementing accessibility principles into day-to-day operations of state service agencies.

A notable feature of the event was the participation of both managers and specialists who interact directly with Ternopil residents. Over 30 representatives from key city sectors joined the training: social security and veteran support, healthcare, administrative services (ASCs), public transportation, housing and utilities, landscaping, etc.

The training program included both theory and practice, with a focus on real-life work scenarios. Participants familiarized themselves with the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment, studied the ethics of interacting with people with visual, hearing, and mobility impairments as well as mental health conditions, and practiced scenarios for providing accessible services in government institutions, particularly with regard to the needs of veterans.

“At Oschadbank, we are convinced that accessibility begins not with a ramp, but with the person and the attitude toward them. Our goal is not just to share our experience, but to help communities build a cultural environment where every customer or visitor feels comfortable. Oschadbank is systematically implementing inclusive standards at its branches, and we strive to make this experience standard across the country,” said Anton Tiutiun, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Oschadbank.

The training session in Ternopil is part of a nationwide training course implemented by Oschadbank. The program consists of 21 two-day workshops across all regions of Ukraine. It has already been held in Rivne, Odesa, Poltava, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The initiative is being implemented as part of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska’s initiative “Barrier-Free Means When You CAN” supported by Tetiana Lomakina, Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on Barrier-Free Environment.

Oschadbank is scaling its own experience through this program: over 740 of the Bank's branches meet accessibility standards, 33 of which were built according to its own inclusive design. All Oschadbank's employees undergo relevant training. These approaches are now being shared with the public sector.

The strategic goal of the project is to establish a sustainable network of local accessibility communication coaches. Upon completion of the program, they will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of inclusive standards in the daily operations of government agencies.