Recently, I have been wrapping up my Social Expertise Exchange grant from the Eurasia Foundation. This grant allowed me to engage in an exchange with a Russian colleague who was also interested in youth… Continue reading
We’ve all heard the phrase “great minds think alike,” but this morning’s disability initiatives roundtable sponsored by the Eurasia Foundation’s U.S.-Russia Social Expertise Exchange really blew my mind. I was honored to participate… Continue reading
The spirit of Lev Vygotsky’s theory about cultural-historical psychology lives on in a vibrant community center for youth with a range of disabilities in Moscow, Russia. I had the honor of visiting… Continue reading
Nastavniki, otherwise known as Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Moscow, is an organization specializing in mentoring young people in the child welfare system – including young people with disabilities. As I understand it,… Continue reading
On Friday, January 20, 2017, I presented a lecture introducing the social work concept of evidence-based practice as a process that includes program evaluation. This lecture was presented to the social work… Continue reading
In this training, presented in Russian (transcript below), I argue that people with disabilities need to be seen in a different light – a more empowering light. In both the United States and… Continue reading
My Russian child welfare colleagues are experimenting with a number of different models designed to support children with disabilities in stable family placements. Today, I visited one of these experimental models, a family… Continue reading
The concept of universal design is based on the idea that the production of buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to all – regardless of disability – is a best practice.… Continue reading
As a social work educator, I have been particularly curious about the nature of social work education in the Russian Federation. Therefore, I was thrilled to receive an invitation – facilitated by the… Continue reading
While Russia may face a stereotype that people with disabilities are stigmatized, this does not mean that there is a dearth of social change agents actively working to re-frame the status of this population… Continue reading
As I arrived in Moscow for the first time in 33 years, I wondered what kind of bridge I might need to build between me and my new colleagues. We were all interested… Continue reading
