Driving schools for people with disabilities: what you need to know
In the driving school for persons with disabilities, which operates on the basis of the National Academy of Internal Affairs, students have the opportunity to undergo training and obtain a driver's license, acquire the skills of driving a car converted for manual control.
The educational process is provided by highly qualified teachers and instructors. In total, the duration of the training is 11 weeks, of which 64 hours are allocated for the course of theoretical training, 40 hours - for the acquisition and improvement of practical driving skills.
The main advantages of training in a driving school for people with disabilities are:
- adapted training programs;
- training in mixed inclusive groups or individually with experienced teachers;
- the possibility of theoretical training in a distance format;
- training and passing exams in inclusive rooms.
Modern training cars with manual control are equipped for students, classrooms are specially equipped for convenient and comfortable learning.
On the territory where classes are held, accessible infrastructure is provided, ramps and separate bathrooms are installed.
On the basis of NAVS, the next stage of training in a driving school for people with disabilities continues. The first meeting took place in the form of an open class, during which instructors introduced participants to the learning conditions, presented thematic presentations and an interactive driving school class. At present, students are actively mastering the theoretical part of the lessons, which in the future will allow them to pass the practical part of the training at the proper level and demonstrate a decent level of final knowledge and skills.
In November 2023, Vitaliy Pcholkin, a student of the driving school for people with disabilities, is the co-founder of the projects “InvaFishky” and “Paralychnenko”, executive director of the NGO “Active Rehabilitation Group”, a player of the Kyiv region rugby team on wheelchairs. Since 2021, he has been a member of the Council of Barriers under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Days after successfully passing the theoretical and practical exams, he received his driver's license.
Vitaly and his wife Ulyana, thanks to the jointly created project, actively help people with disabilities to overcome their own barriers. They share personal experiences, telling how to adapt to a new lifestyle after trauma and feel completely independent and confident in their abilities.
A student of an inclusive driving school in Kyiv region, who worked in a consulting company before the beginning of the full-scale invasion, was a graduate student of the capital's university, in March last year he volunteered for military service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Having received a gunshot wound, lost his left limb, is now undergoing rehabilitation in the city. Bucha.
Paul began to master the basics of the theoretical driving course even during the service, because he is sure that every soldier should be able to drive different types of vehicles under any circumstances. After the injury, he promised himself that he would certainly study at a driving school and get a driver's license.
“While I was in the rehabilitation center,” Pavel noted, “my wife found out about Elena Zelenska's project “Without Barriers”, after which I applied for a contact number, received the necessary information and immediately decided to study at a driving school. I express my gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Academy for the created comfortable conditions for people with disabilities. The cars are quite comfortable. And most importantly, here I did not feel discrimination, because I have no hand, as it was in private driving schools, where, unfortunately, I was denied education.”
Now Paul is waiting for prosthetics, after which he will undergo training with both limbs.
We wish the listener inspiration and good health!
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
