Life Behind a Glass Wall: How Psychologist Mariia Boiko Supports Deaf Adolescent Girls in Ukraine

Photo: from Mariia Boiko’s personal archive 

“You are not alone. Don’t be afraid to seek help, share what you are going through and move forward, one step at a time,” says Mariia Boiko, a psychologist from Zhytomyr region, addressing deaf girls. 

For people who communicate using sign language, barriers to information, services, education and opportunities can create a kind of “glass wall” between them and the world. Such barriers can limit their ability to communicate fully, access the support they need and participate in community life. Mariia has also faced these barriers since childhood.

Today, Mariia is one of the first psychologists in Ukraine to provide psychological support in sign language to deaf girls. Amid Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, such support is particularly important: it helps adolescents cope with anxiety, better understand their emotions and develop confidence in the future. Mariia’s story is an example of the changes that are already taking place. 
 

Life in a Segregated System: Mariia’s Path to Becoming a Psychologist

Photo: from Mariia Boiko’s personal archive 

The system of segregated education for children with disabilities also shaped Mariia’s childhood. Because of her hearing impairment, she was sent to a specialised boarding school at an early age. From the age of three, she had to learn to live independently, without her family nearby. 

“It was emotionally difficult: there were many tears and I missed my family. I spent most of my time at the boarding school – I stayed there for two weeks and could only go home for two days. It was difficult for me to understand why I had to stay at school rather than at home, especially since it was relatively close – just an hour away,” Mariia recalls. 

Over time, she adapted to life at the boarding school. “There, I could communicate with other deaf children, felt part of a community and had the opportunity to develop. This helped me preserve my childhood, although the initial adjustment was emotionally very difficult. Studying at a specialised school gave me a sense of safety and support. I was able to learn sign language, which made me more independent and confident.” 

Finishing school, entering wider society and pursuing higher education became a new challenge for Mariia and her classmates.

Mariia had dreamed of becoming a designer, but she lacked experience in drawing. So, among the university programmes available in Vinnytsia, she chose psychology. Mariia had always been able to sense other people’s emotions and wanted to better understand their experiences. 

“When I started studying, I realised: this is for me. Understanding people, their experiences and their inner world became my passion. I was the only deaf student among my classmates. I communicated with them by phone, through notes or in a notebook. During remote learning, I used automatic captions in Zoom, which allowed me to follow lectures without an interpreter. Sometimes an interpreter was present during classes, but rarely,” Mariia says. 

The lack of sign-language interpretation became one of the biggest challenges. Mariia had to find materials on her own, work through extensive amounts of literature and make an extra effort not simply to keep up, but to become a professional in her chosen field.

These challenges strengthened Mariia and laid the foundation for her development as a professional. Today, she works as a psychologist and motivates other deaf girls and women, helping them overcome barriers and believe in their own abilities. 
 

Conversations Without Limits 

Limited access to information, including news videos without sign-language interpretation or captions, can increase anxiety and affect the self-esteem and sense of isolation of girls with hearing impairments. Mariia knows this from her own experience and seeks to support deaf adolescent girls during the transition into adulthood. 

Girls who feel “invisible” come to her for psychological support. Society is accustomed to looking past them and failing to notice their fears about the war or their uncertainty as they grow up. It can be particularly painful when they cannot communicate openly even with those closest to them – for example, when hearing parents do not know sign language and children remain isolated even at home. 

“When a person does not have access to information, they may feel isolated or less confident. This affects their self-esteem and sense of self-worth. What frustrates me most is when deaf people are perceived as ‘less capable’ or when their need for sign language is not taken into account. People often do not even consider that accessible communication and respect for our way of communicating are important to us,” Mariia says. 

After university, Mariia tried herself in different fields, but eventually returned to psychology. She sees her mission in providing psychological support to girls with hearing impairments as they navigate their development, helping them overcome stigma associated with disability. 

Speaking about her practice, Mariia explains why consultations in sign language are important for her clients: 

“For deaf people, it is important to have a deaf psychologist because communication takes place directly in sign language, without an interpreter. This creates greater trust and comfort and allows them to speak openly about their feelings,” Mariia says. 

 

A Dream That’s Becoming a Reality 

Photo: from Mariia Boiko’s personal archive 

Understanding the challenges faced by deaf adolescents and the growing demand for psychological support encouraged Mariia to seek opportunities to expand her work.   

It was then that she came across an announcement about a contest organized by NGO “Fight For Right” as part of the “Leadership of Girls and Women with Disabilities in Communities” project, implemented with the technical support of UN Women Ukraine and funded by the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). Her “Feel Yourself” project was selected, and Mariia also participated in the “Be Your Own Goal” training camp for girls and women with disabilities in the Carpathians. 

After receiving a grant, from January to March 2026, Mariia, together with the NGO “KULBABKA.ZT” , implemented an initiative aimed at creating an accessible space for deaf adolescent girls. The initiative was built around Mariia’s vision of creating a safe space for deaf adolescent girls, who often face barriers to communication, self-expression and access to psychological support. 

Over two months, she held 13 group sessions, bringing together 10 deaf girls.    

Mariia adds: “I had an idea to create a support space where girls could talk about their emotions, receive psychological support and learn more about important topics. I am very glad that my idea was supported. Thanks to the grant, we were able to implement the project and hold these meetings for the girls. Ten deaf girls received psychological support. They became more open and confident and developed a better understanding of their feelings. For me, it is very valuable to see these positive changes.” 

According to Mariia, girls most often seek support with issues related to self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and relationships with other people. Many experience anxiety, self-doubt or difficulties communicating with those around them. They also sometimes have questions about self-acceptance, personal boundaries and how to build healthy relationships.   

“For many, it is important to have a safe space where they can openly talk about their feelings and be heard. My goal is to support them, help them better understand their emotions and find their inner resources,” Mariia says. 
 

“We Are Just Like Everyone Else” 

According to Mariia, most deaf girls dream of a society without barriers, with equal access to education, information, work and opportunities. They want sign language to be more widely used and deaf people to be accepted as equals, starting within their own families. It is also important to avoid segregating children so that, through inclusion, young people can more easily return to full participation in community life after finishing school. 

“It is very important that deaf people do not feel limited and can pursue their dreams just like everyone else. We are just like everyone else.” 

As for her own dreams, Mariia says: “I dream of opening my own practice where I can support deaf girls and create a safe space for their emotions. For me, the greatest achievement is when, after consultations, a person begins to believe in herself more, better understands her emotions and feels changes in her life.” 

The “Leadership of Women with Disabilities in Communities” project is implemented by the NGO “Fight For Right” funded by The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) with technical support of UN Women Ukraine. The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) mobilizes critical support for local and grassroots civil society organizations working on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism supporting quality interventions designed to enhance the capacity of women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.

This publication is produced with funding from the United Nations Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), however, the views expressed and content included do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.