“It’s Like He Opened Up”: How Support Helped Slavik Find His Voice

Slavik is 10 years old. He is in the first grade and has a disability. Just a few months ago, his communication was very limited: instead of words, he relied on gestures, individual sounds, and attempts to express his basic needs in whatever way he could. His mother, Olha, had learned to “read” her son without words and dreamed most of all that he would one day begin to speak.

Despite previous sessions with specialists, there had been little noticeable progress in his speech development. Things began to change after the family started attending our Child-Friendly Space.

The support process began with careful observation and a comprehensive assessment. It was important for the team to understand not only Slavik’s speech abilities but also his overall development: how he responded to instructions, what helped him engage with others, how long he could maintain attention, and what tended to overwhelm him.

An inclusion specialist and a speech therapist/special education specialist joined his support plan. The approach was gradual and tailored to Slavik’s pace, with a clear structure and consistent repetition that helped him feel safe and secure.

One of the main challenges was his high level of physical activity and difficulty concentrating. At first, it was hard for Slavik to stay engaged in an activity even for a short period of time. To address this, the sessions were adapted through short tasks, frequent changes of activities, and a gradual increase in participation.

Changes became noticeable within the first three months. Slavik began using words to express his needs. Later, simple sentences appeared. Most importantly, speech became a tool for communication rather than isolated attempts to express himself. He started approaching adults more often, responding to others, and initiating interaction.

Olha says that what impresses her most is not only the appearance of words, but the overall change in her son’s wellbeing:

“It’s like he opened up. Now he can tell us what he wants to say, and that changes everything in our lives.”

It has also been important for the family to see how Slavik feels in the Child-Friendly Space. He looks forward to attending sessions and returns home calm and happy. For his mother, this is one of the clearest signs that he feels comfortable and safe there.

Slavik loves building with construction toys and modelling with clay. Through play, it is easier for him to interact with others, try new words, and reinforce newly acquired skills. These activities gradually build his confidence and willingness to communicate.

Group sessions also play an important role. During these activities, children and parents play, communicate, and complete simple tasks together. This creates a natural environment for developing social skills without pressure and through positive interaction.

For Olha, who is raising her son on her own, this support has become an important source of stability. She highlights the consistency of the approach, respect for her child’s pace, and the meaningful changes that have become part of their daily life.

Support is provided within the framework of the UNICEF project “Protection Services for the Most Vulnerable Children and Parents (or Their Caregivers) in Communities of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts,” implemented by Responsible Citizens NGO with financial support from the Government of the United States and UNICEF Ukraine.