Development of inclusion through the creative practices

As a continuation of the First World Congress of People with Disabilities, which was held in Yekaterinburg in 2017, another project with the participation of specialists from America will be organized in March 2020.

From March 2 to 6, events will be held in Yekaterinburg and Verkh-Neuvinskiy aimed at sharing experiences and practices with people with disabilities.

Susan O’Rourke

On March 2, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the “Special People” workshop will be held “Inclusive Technologies: a review of assistive technologies and communication systems for people with disabilities.” It will be held by Susan O’Rourke, a professor at Carlow University in Pittsburgh. The seminar will present various assistive technologies currently available to support people with disabilities, explain the range of adaptive equipment and devices from low to high technologies. Susan will explain how all of this can be used to train and expand employment opportunities.

From 15:30 to 17:00 in the Yeltsin Center will host the second master class on the topic: “Warhol: making the museum accessible. Inclusive audio guides and tactile playback. ” It will be hosted by Nicole Deselon, Executive Director of Learning at the Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh (America). An overview of the use of advanced and supportive communication systems for non-verbal individuals will be presented, including capacity assessments and training procedures.

Nicole Dezelon

On March 3, at 5 p.m., a team of specialists consisting of Kevin Spencer – a social educator and professional magician (America), Boris Khokhonov – an artist, Tatyana Lungvina – an inaudible trainer-instructor and Alexander Babarykin – an invisible trainer-instructor, will leave for the settlement Verkh-Neyvinsky (Sverdlovsk region, Nevyansky district) to the organization «Blago delo» to conduct a performance of “Revitalization”. The essence of the performance is that people learn trust from a blind coach, and working with inner emotions from a deaf person. After that, the artist Boris Khokhonov will show the participants paintings that they will already look with different eyes, with different thoughts and feelings. And this is not magic.

Kevin Spencer

Also on March 4, at 12:00 p.m., Susan and Nicole will conduct master classes and creative studios in the Good Deed.

On March 5, Kevin Spencer will hold a master class at the Special People Association, and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. a discussion and planning of the international exhibition International InclusiveExpo will take place at the White Cane, drawing on the experience of foreign colleagues.

On March 6, Kevin Spencer will hold another master class at the Razvitie Charity Children’s Creativity Center.

It is worth noting that Kevin Spencer and Susan O’Rourke were participants in the First World Congress of People with Disabilities. The P2P activities of THE ARTS AND SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION are supported by The Eurasia Foundation.

Project partners:

NGO “White cane”

NGO NPPO «Blago delo”

Yeltsin Center

Association «Special people»

Children’s Center “Development”

Kevin Spencer’s Organization «Hocus Focus»

Regional resource center for the development of an integrated system for accompanying children with autism spectrum disorders in the Sverdlovsk region