We have united students of Ekaterinburg and Sinop in the seminar “Interaction with people with disabilities in a youth environment”!

On February 18th 2025 an international seminar occurred for the first at Ural Federal University, it became a platform for a fruitful exchange of experience between sociology students of UrFU and students of social work department of Sinop University (Turkey). The participants of the seminar dived into studying of inclusive practices, got acquainted with advanced projects and discussed most conducing conditions for development of extrabilities.

This meeting is a continuation of cooperation with White Cane NGO, which began within the scope of the “Sails of the spirit project” in Turkey in October of 2024. We are planning another trip beneath the sails to this wonderful country in 2025, and we are very happy to have an opportunity to chat with our partners.

Oleg Kolpashchikov (Олег Колпащиков) has opened the conference. Abdullah Ishik (Abdullah IŞIK) - head of social work department of Sinop University, associate professor, doctor participated as a moderator. In the beginning of the seminar he noted that it is very important to begin interactions with people with disabilities from a young age and help them in obtaining education and employment. Victoriya Polyakova (Виктория Полякова) - head of applied sociology department of UHI UrFU (Ural Humanitarian institute of Ural Federal University), Dina Shchipanova (Дина Щипанова) - Associate professor of educational psychology and professional development department of RGPPU (Russian State professional Pedagogical University) and Alina Tosun, a volunteer and a translator took part in the event as well.

Next, students of UrFU presented results of their work within “Inclusive interaction within the scope of School of young masters of inclusion” project, implemented according to extrability philosophy, and shared their experience of participation in events of White Cane NGO.

The next stage of the seminar was watching a story about interaction of deaf people in conditions of vision limitations that provoked a lively discussion and let to take a fresh look at many aspects of communication. More over a practicum occurred within which students were suggested to think through a plan of integration of people with disabilities into student events, and while the guys were thinking, Alina Tosun the translator (who has musculoskeletal disorders) shared her personal experience of participating in youth events back in her student days. As a result students suggested interesting solutions.

At the end of the seminar, all participants noted a practical benefit and successfulness of its holding, since it made it possible to discuss peculiarities of attitude towards people with disabilities in different countries and a necessity of cooperative work of including people with disabilities into public life with turkish colleagues.

We express a gratitude to students of UrFU and Sinop University, as well as the experts: Oleg Kolpashchikov, Doctor Abdullah Ishik, Alina Tosun, Oksana Makovienko (Оксанa Маковиенко), Victoriya Polyakova and Dina Shschipanova!

We thank our partners:

• Ural Federal University named after the first president of Russia B. N. Yeltsin

• Sinop University (Turkey)

• Tarsus Disability Platform

We are wating for new meetings and a continuation of a fruitful cooperation!