Abstract:
This study explores the lived experiences of parents raising children with disabilities in de-occupied regions of Ukraine, where communities face the dual challenges of war trauma and disrupted social infrastructure. Based on semi-structured interviews, the research documents parents’ perspectives on displacement, socialisation, education, and access to healthcare and psychosocial support. Particular attention is paid to how the loss of stable peer groups, infrastructural destruction, and heightened anxieties shape children’s development and adaptation. The findings reveal that families encounter not only material hardship and institutional neglect but also existential uncertainty, which complicates their capacity to provide consistent care. At the same time, parents demonstrate remarkable resilience and resourcefulness in negotiating new environments, seeking alternative educational opportunities, and fostering inclusion. The study contributes to international debates on disability, social adaptation, and trauma-informed support in post-conflict contexts, highlighting urgent policy needs in education, health, and family support systems.
