SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES, CHALLENGES, AND RISKS FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES UNDER MARTIAL LAW

Abstract

The article examines the social consequences, challenges, and risks faced by young people with disabilities under martial law in Ukraine. Emphasis is placed on the dynamic increase in the number of persons with disabilities due to military actions, with youth making up a significant portion of this population. The author highlights the lack of accurate statistics regarding the number of young people with disabilities, which complicates the formation of a comprehensive understanding of the scale of the problem and the development of effective state responses. The article explores the contradiction between the rights of youth with disabilities declared in Ukrainian legislation and the real situation, particularly in terms of access to education, employment, social support, and participation in public life. The essence of social consequences, challenges, and risks is defined, and the differences between them are clarified. A wide range of social consequences is identified – from marginalization to economic dependency and psycho-emotional isolation. Key challenges include low awareness of rights, limited political engagement, mobility constraints, and insufficient social and civic competencies. It is emphasized that the current system of social work is insufficiently adapted to the needs of youth with disabilities, especially during the transition to adulthood. Attention is also drawn to the consequences of Russian armed aggression, which has significantly impeded access to medical and rehabilitation services, triggering a new wave of disability among youth. In the study of social consequences, challenges and risks for young people with disabilities under martial law, general scientific methods were used, including analysis, synthesis and comparison. Inductive and deductive methods allowed us to establish patterns and predict possible consequences. Modeling allows us to recreate social processes and assess the effectiveness of support for this group of young people. The author analyzes potential risks of further deepening social isolation, the erosion of trust in institutions, and the increasing burden on the social protection system – all of which require comprehensive intersectoral cooperation and a rethinking of approaches to supporting this target group.