Lithuania’s shift towards accessibility: How inclusion is reshaping the lives of differently-abled people

From workplaces to public spaces, several accessibility-driven initiatives in Lithuania are positioning it as a leader in inclusivity among the Baltic states. Over the last year, initiatives in the job market, infrastructure, and many others have improved the lives of the disabled community by increasing the number of disabled individuals in the workforce and reaching the highest-ever numbers of accessible public and private spaces.

According to Simona Kunigonyte, head of the Association of People with Disabilities in Employment, an NGO in Vilnius, Lithuania, this is driven heavily by “social ads, influencers,, and an increase in public interest.” There is also governmental support, which includes the Law on Accessibility Requirements for Products, set to come into force in June 2025 (Macijauskiene, 2025), benefiting over 200,000 individuals (National Audit Office of Lithuania, 2020) with disabilities in Lithuania.

Kunigonyte also mentions significant changes in the job market, such as “closing state-subsidized social enterprises” and working towards the complete inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the job market. “Those who are already taking that step [to hire a person with a disability] are full of initiative about what more [they] can do to make that person feel good,” she says. Indre Krucaite, 26, who has restricted mobility due to her congenital lower limb difference, agrees with this. She used to hide her disability from employers but has recently become more open, as many employers actively seek to accommodate her.

Jelena Ivancenko, the Assistant Director of the governmental Agency for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, based in Vilnius, Lithuania, mentions that changes in the government-administered disability screening model are one of the main structural improvements benefiting individuals with disabilities. Since January 1, 2025, a new disability screening test has been implemented, which is compiled 60% from medical evidence and 40% from a questionnaire filled out by the person with a disability, replacing the previous outdated system, which used to be 90% from medical evidence and 10% from the questionnaire (Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas, 2022). This change allows for a more realistic assessment of the individual’s abilities and needs and more clearly illustrates what accommodations and help the individual may require.

Infrastructural accessibility is another critical factor in improving the lives of people with disabilities. “Universal Design” is a non-profit project operating under the Lithuanian People with Disabilities Association, which is funded partially by the state, as well as by individuals and legal entities (2012). In 2023, “Universal Design” introduced a digital map project. According to Universal Design manager Ana Staceviciene, the map shows how different buildings in the country have been adapted for individuals with mobility restrictions. This allows disabled people to find out if a building is adapted to their needs ahead of time and avoid unnecessary stress when arriving at the location.

Krucaite, who has worn a prosthetic leg since childhood, said she still encounters public spaces that are not adapted for people with limited mobility, such as the lack of elevators in railway stations. However, there have been some positive changes, such as public transport becoming more accessible—“there are new buses without stairs and with lower floors,” says Krucaite.

Improvements have also been seen across the digital information field, with the European Union's requirements to make all websites and digital tools accessible to people with disabilities by June 1, 2025. Sandra Bukliene, who oversees the governmental Consultation Center for Inquiries Around Accessibility, based in Vilnius, Lithuania, said the center has received an increased number of queries in the last year from event organizers, asking, "How should our website be adapted to be accessible to all?" She said increased accessibility of digital information sends a message to the disabled community that “Come, we are waiting for you,” which reduces feelings of marginalization and exclusion.

While improved access to employment, infrastructure, and information plays a key role, Kunigonyte notes that perhaps the most encouraging sign of progress is the growing social acceptance in Lithuania of people with disabilities. Public service advertisements, influencers, and governmental initiatives all increase the visibility of differently abled individuals and show that “We are here, with you, and we all fit on this Earth,” she said.