Ihor Duka
Perhaps Assistant for People with Disabilities
Ihor lives in the Kolping House supported living home and helps wheelchair users get where they need to go every day. He accompanies them to appointments, assists with everyday tasks, and offers support whenever it is needed. Igor believes that everyone deserves respect and equal treatment — free from pity, prejudice, or labels.
How would I describe myself? Kind. Honest. Genuine. And I love joking.
I support people who use wheelchairs.
What I can’t stand is seeing someone arrive somewhere only to find it isn’t accessible. That’s when I know I have to keep pushing for change. Accessibility matters.
I’ve been working here since 2024, and this is a place where I’m accepted exactly as I am.
One of our patients reached a point in rehabilitation where he said, “I want to work.” That’s when his employment journey began.
When helping a person with a disability find a job, the most important thing is identifying their strengths. His previous role involved working with numbers, and that simply wasn’t where he thrived. It led to frustration and conflict. But once we focused on what he was naturally good at, everything changed. Ihor isn’t someone who can sit still — he needs to be out and about, constantly on the move. We even used to joke that he was everywhere at once because he’s always off somewhere.
Outside of work, I love football and all kinds of competitions. I’ve been to Berlin for the Special Olympics, and today I’m a member of the Special Olympics Ukraine Council.
I also love spending time with Mariia. She’s the woman who loves and respects me.
The Story of IHOR DUKA
Ihor is a resident of the Kolping House supported living home.
Two years ago, Ihor came to Kolping House after completing rehabilitation and making several unsuccessful attempts to find employment. Jobs involving numbers and precise calculations proved difficult for him and even led to conflicts. Gradually, the Kolping team realised that Ihor found it difficult to sit in one place for long — he needed to stay active, keep moving, and always have somewhere to go. That was how he found a job that truly suited him: he became a support worker.
Today, Ihor assists wheelchair users with everyday activities. Whenever he encounters a barrier along the way, he refuses to simply walk past it:
“I just need to keep going and fight for accessibility.”
For him, this is more than a job — it is an opportunity to change the environment around him and make it more accessible for others.
It was at Kolping that Ihor was accepted for who he is and supported in finding meaningful work where he can make a valuable contribution.
Ihor is passionate about football and various sports competitions. He travelled to Berlin to participate in the Special Olympics and is now a member of the Board of Special Olympics Ukraine.
