Ukraine Needs Children's Books on Inclusion – Olena Zelenska at the Book Country Festival

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First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in the Children's Reading Without Barriers round table at the Book Country festival, which was dedicated to the availability of children's literature in Ukraine.

The event was supported by the Office of the President and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.

"If you search for 'children's books about people with disabilities' on Google, you will see hundreds of books. Ukraine also needs such books and book characters now. Different ones, like all of us. Heroes with different challenges, with experience of trauma or war. Characters with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in wheelchairs. With PTSD or injuries, with vision or hearing problems. Creating such children's books in Ukraine now means forming barrier-free generations," Olena Zelenska said in her speech.

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The moderator of the round table, Advisor - Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk emphasized that when we develop accessibility of children's literature, inclusiveness and barrier-free access to culture and education, we create opportunities for children with special educational needs.

"In preparation for our conversation, I read a lot of texts, and one phrase caught my eye: "despite the needs of the child." Or should it be "taking them into account?" I am convinced that we definitely need to take into account all children's needs to make reading accessible to every child. It is our duty and responsibility," she said.

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Other speakers at the event included Rostyslav Karandieiev, Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Andrii Stashkiv, his deputy, and Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. Representatives of the Ukrainian Book Institute, the National Library of Ukraine for Children, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, and founders of Ukrainian bookstores joined the discussion.

The round table discussed accessible formats of literature for children with special needs, the integration of inclusive practices into publishing, and the role of book institutions in ensuring equal access to reading for all children.

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