Video: New center in Kyiv helps children with disabilities

Diagnosed with autism and visual agnosia, a rare form of vision impairment, Lev Onufryk, 9, until recently could only be taught at home: He requires special care and support that even those Ukrainian schools that have inclusive classes are unable to provide.

But now Lev is able to study together with other children, having been enrolled in Open4u, a new inclusive rehabilitation center for children with disabilities that was launched in Kyiv on Sept. 17.

Lev’s mother, Marianna Onufryk, 38, says that it is extremely important for children with disabilities to experience at least some changes in their routine.

“Children with disabilities cannot always have the same routine, the (same) habitual situations,” says Onufryk. “Changes push them towards improvement. And if a child is prepared to cope with change, it can be very useful.”