Airport personnel is studying sign language

10 December 2021

Within the framework of the project “Boryspil without barriers”, which is implemented under the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska, Boryspil International Airport in partnership with Visa and the Public Organization “Bezbriernist”, 80 employees from various departments of the airport are taking a course “Basic Ukrainian Sign Language “.

Boryspil aims for creating an accessible and comfortable environment for all, so we train the personnel to manage well with different passengers.

People with hearing disorder communicate using sign language, fully functional language with its own rules, and which is different for each country (there are more than 150 of them in the world). The course, which will be delivered to the airport staff starting from 10.12 up to 24.12, is dedicated to Ukrainian sign language.
More than 223,000 Ukrainians speak sign language, and it is the third most widely spoken language in the country, so it is extremely important to know its basics.

The course is intensive and very rich, the program has a minimum of theory and a maximum of communication and practical exercises.
Experienced teacher Sandra Kushchenko, a sign language translator and project manager of the Public Organization “Vidchui” with more than 6 years of experience, will be involved in teaching course.

The focus will be put on the most important words and phrases that may be needed at the airport.
Knowing even the basic phrases of sign language helps to be more open while communicating with other people and build a barrier-free Boryspil International Airport.

Visa was the initiator and partner of this project on inclusion.

“Visa is committed to diversity and inclusion. The comfort of our employees, partners and customers is one of the top priorities. Therefore, we are happy to share our values with our partners and start training on the basic course of Ukrainian Sign Language for Boryspil Airport employees. Navigation at the airport will soon be much easier for people with hearing disorders. By creating an inclusive environment, we provide everyone with equal rights and opportunities,”, commented Vira Platonova, Senior Vice President and Regional Development Director of Visa in Ukraine, Georgia, the CIS and Southeast Europe.