In 2012, at the age of 19, Oksana Kononets  suffered an injury to the C5-6 vertebrae as a result of a fall from a 5th floor, which left her paralyzed. Oksana refused to let her disability stop her and stubbornly pushed on. Through months of rehabilitation, she learned to adapt herself in many ways. It was then, that she realized that, despite her disability, she is a complete and self-sufficient person; which gave her the strength to move on. Okasa’s disability is not an obstacle to fulfilling her dreams. She returned to and graduated from university twice, she created a beauty blog to inspire other girls like her with weak hands, and, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a model.  Able to escape shortly after the war began in Ukraine, Oksana and her mother are now safely in the United States.

What you will hear

• Ukraine
• What life was like in Ukraine before the war.
• Oksana’s injury and surgery.
• What life in Ukraine is like with a disability.
• Ms. Wheelchair World Pageant.
• The need for better infrastructure in Ukraine.
• Oksana’s journey from Ukraine in late early March.
• Runway of Dreams.
• Impact of COVID for people with disabilities in Ukraine.
• What is the most powerful action the world can take to show support and solidarity for the people of Ukraine.
• Non-profit organizations
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•  Messages of Hope