We are proud to share that Dr. Monika Nowicka of Civitas University is co-author of a newly published article in the journal PLOS ONE, developed within the UNRF project funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).

The article, titled “An unfortunate natural experiment in learning how to provide services to those in need: The case of Ukrainian war refugees with disabilities in Warsaw and Bucharest,” explores how public institutions and non-governmental organizations in both cities responded to the influx of Ukrainian refugees with disabilities following the outbreak of the war.

Based on 41 in-depth interviews with individuals directly involved in support efforts, the study highlights how the crisis created an unexpected space for informal learning — both at the institutional and personal levels. The authors examine how this experience has contributed to the development of more inclusive and responsive support systems.

The publication offers an important perspective in the international debate on inclusivity, humanitarian crisis response, and the adaptation of social systems to the needs of persons with disabilities.

As Dr. Monika Nowicka, scientific editor and co-author, notes:

“This article is not only an analysis of the refugee crisis, but above all a voice on behalf of people with disabilities, who are too often invisible in migration and social policies. We wanted to show that even in responding to war-related emergencies, it is possible to build more accessible and just support systems. It’s a difficult lesson — but a much-needed one, also for us as researchers.”

Read the full article in PLOS ONE.

More about the project: https://civitas.edu.pl/en/research/project-unrf