You're reading: Amendments to laws on rights of disabled come into force in Ukraine

Amendments to the laws of Ukraine concerning the rights of disabled people will came into force on January 1, 2013. 

According to the law of Ukraine on amendments to some Ukrainian laws on the rights of persons with disabilities, starting from January 1, enterprises, institutions and organizations must create conditions for the unimpeded access of disabled people to the surrounding objects.

From January 1, 2013, car owners and manufacturers, private media, broadcasting organizations, telecommunications service operators etc. must provide their services and products taking into account the needs of disabled people.

The document demands signs should be placed on the physical environment objects and transport means, which are used in the international practice to ensure their accessibility to the disabled. The information published on the facilities must also be duplicated in embossed printing or Braille letters. Numbers of floors, offices should be in embossed printing.

Also, starting from January 1, 2013, enterprises, organizations and entrepreneurs should ensure that number of the route and the names of the stops of public transport means should be announced.

The amendments to the law stipulate that public transport includes rail, sea, river, road, air and urban electric transport, including the subway.

Furthermore, means of public transport manufactured in Ukraine or imported into the country, should be adapted for the use by visually impaired people, hearing impaired people, and people with mobility impairment.