Nataliia Ivashchenko came to the Step Forward project from Poltava with her 10-year-old son, Yevhen. At first, she did not notice any differences in her son’s development. Over time, however, she began to pay closer attention to how he responded to his parents, animals, and other people. His reactions differed from those of his older sister, prompting Nataliia to seek answers. She consulted doctors, underwent medical assessments with her son, and tried to understand what was happening.
After learning about Yevhen’s diagnosis, Nataliia did not stop there. She began learning more about autism spectrum disorder, looking for ways to better understand her son’s needs and support his development. Over time, the knowledge she gained became the foundation for helping other children with disabilities and their families.
Watch our video to find out how participating in the project has shaped Nataliia and her son’s experience, and what they will take away from these two weeks.
“Step Forward” is a project that creates a barrier-free space where every child or young person with a disability can be heard, accepted, and engaged in active life.
The camp session was made possible thanks to the support of the Religious Mission Caritas-Spes Ukraine, the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Slovenska karitas.
office@caritas-spes.org
0800 300 344 - Hotline
Head office:
Borychiv Tik 22-A street, 04070 Kyiv, Ukraine
