When Iryna Soroka recalls the first time she took part in a catwalk show, she says it was the most exciting experience she ever had. Soroka, 24, has a congenital disability and needs a wheelchair to get around.

Until recently, her routine was similar to that of many other Ukrainians with disabilities: She worked as a freelancer and spent most of her time at home.

Now, she is among the students of Inclusive Model Agency, which says it is the first model agency in Ukraine devoted to preparing people with disabilities for a professional modeling career.

The agency started at the end of July in Kharkiv, the city of 1.4 million people located some 480 kilometers east of Kyiv. It currently educates 30 Kharkiv residents. They learn how to pose for photographers, perform in catwalk shows and prepare for the hyper-competitive industry of modeling.