The need for these services in Kryvyi Rih is growing every year. According to data from the city’s two existing Inclusive Resource Centres, 2,238 children underwent comprehensive psychological and educational assessments in 2025 and are now registered with the IRCs, meaning they require ongoing support throughout their education. More than half of them — 54.6% — are under the age of five, precisely the period when early intervention can be most effective.
Speech and language difficulties are the most common developmental challenge among children. They account for the largest share of educational difficulties both among children with special educational needs overall and, in particular, among preschool-aged children. Among children under five, speech and language difficulties were identified in 931 children — significantly more than any other category of developmental difficulty.
Experts emphasise that language development is about much more than a child’s ability to speak. It is closely linked to cognitive development, learning, social interaction, and emotional well-being. This is why identifying speech and language delays early and providing timely support from speech therapists, psychologists, and other specialists can significantly improve a child’s chances of reaching their full potential.
The scale of the need is also reflected in international research. According to estimates by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, between 8.4% and 13% of young children experience developmental delays or are at risk of developmental delays. For the Kryvyi Rih community, this could mean that between 840 and 1,300 children under the age of four may potentially need early intervention services — support that can help prevent disability and enable children to develop to their full potential.
The new Inclusive Resource Centre will help reduce waiting times for comprehensive assessments, make services more accessible to families, and enable more children to receive the support they need without unnecessary delays.
But support for children begins long before a family reaches an IRC. Parents need to be able to recognise potential developmental differences early and understand when it is time to seek professional advice.
That is why, as part of the KRYTSIA: Support for Recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project, a free guide for parents, “Watch me go,” was created. The guide helps parents follow their child’s development from birth to age six, offers simple activities to support speech, motor skills, and communication, and explains which signs may indicate that it is time to consult a specialist.
The new IRC will be another step towards building a system in Kryvyi Rih where every child, regardless of their developmental needs, can receive the right support at the right time — and every family can access professional advice and assistance.
The establishment of the new Inclusive Resource Centre is supported by the KRYTSIA: Support for Recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project, funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, in partnership with Proman and the National Development Institution (NDI).
