Project for Special Needs Students in Ukraine

By Adria Pelensky

As a result of the initiative taken by the Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta, a project of inclusion and integration for special needs individuals has commenccd in Ukraine.  Issues include structural accessibility, lack of methodological and pedagogical teaching resources and effective sustainable practice.  These support initiatives are underway through the generous support of the Canadian International Development Agency and their International Youth Internship Program. 

An ongoing enterprise of the URDC has been to promote communication and support with various groups within Ukraine.  In 2003, Canada’s Grant MacEwan College and the University of Alberta’s Department of Educational Psychology partnered with Ukraine’s Institute of Special Pedagogy at the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences to create the Canada Ukraine Research Team.  The primary goal of CURT was to improve the education of special needs students through joint research, exchange of information and faculty, as well as, the implementation of special projects.  Topics of research included fetal alcohol syndrome in children, new perspectives in special education, psycho-educational assessments, inclusive education, studies of hearing services and English as a Second Language for the deaf.  

Since independence, Ukraine was bound by international treaties to promote inclusive education.  This led to the establishment of a policy on inclusive education for students with disabilities.  Currently, the Ukrainian education system remains centralized.  Most academic studies, particularly in the field of special education are operated through universities in Kyiv.  This has created many obstacles for educators as access to contemporary teaching methods and pedagogy can be hundreds of kilometres away.

The former Soviet system created a faculty of specialists, necessitating a segregated and isolated school system for those with special needs.  Since most local schools are not prepared to accommodate the necessary supports, many parents are faced with the tough question of sending their child off to a separate residential boarding school for rehabilitation or integration in the local school.  In many instances, they’re forced to choose the former.

Now, with the assistance of CIDA and maintenance of the URDC, two Canadian-born interns have been selected to develop strategies for inclusion, accessibility and sustainability with teachers, business owners, political figures and the community-at-large.

Oresta Shulakewych, a native of Edmonton, has arrived in the capitol, Kyiv.  Shulakewych is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta, trained in four sub-disciplines and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Anthropology.  Her training in physical, archeological, linguistic and cultural anthropology gives her extensive knowledge about how to approach and understand a culture different than her own.  Her focus was on cultural anthropology where she studied the effects of globalization, urbanization, as well as community development.  Her interest in the project is rooted in her personal experience living with a family member who became a paraplegic after a spinal cord injury. She has first-hand knowledge of the challenges and obstacles people with disabilities face on a daily basis.

Adria Pelensky, from Toronto, has arrived in Lviv in Western Ukraine. Pelensky has an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in History, with a minor in Geography and Political Science as well as a Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. She is trained in special education, well versed in democratic practice and proficient in obtaining relevant research.  Further to academic qualifications, she has been an active member of the Toronto community, serving as a youth counsellor in Plast, board member of St. Vladimir Institute and the Ukrainian Students Club at the University of Toronto, as well as, a fundraiser for local charities. 

“My interest in this particular project was sparked by my personal philosophy in teaching, to enable students to become knowledgeable, active and engaged members of their community and democratic society.  It was with bittersweet excitement that I accepted this opportunity as I was on the threshold of beginning my teaching career.  However, after considerable discussion and deliberation, I decided to accept this position as I truly felt I could make a valid and lasting contribution.  My experiences in the classroom thus far have been extremely rewarding and beneficial, but this community-minded inclusion project will further enrich my professional development and future career as an educator.” said Pelensky in an interview.

The initial steps of the project are underway.  Both Shulakewych and Pelensky have met with numerous individuals in Canada including Dr. Michael Rodda, Director of the Western Canadian Centre of Studies in Deafness at the University of Alberta; Bruce Uditsky, CEO Alberta Association of Community Living; Dr. Judy Lupart, Professor of Educational Psychology at University of Alberta; and Dave Hannis, Instructor of Social Work and co-author of “Community Development in Canada”, to name a few.  In their respective cities of Kyiv and Lviv, these interns have begun convening with integral members of the community, including government ministers, professors of various universities and leaders of existing support organizations.

Extensive research and needs assessment are fundamental in determining the direction, tempo and structure of the project and thus, the first month or so will be devoted to investigation and discussion.  The overall project will run approximately eight months, but both anticipate that through their effective planning even in their absence enduring practice will remain.   

Details of the project and progress will be documented thoroughly on the CURT website: www.canada-ukraine.org. 

Adria Pelensky is Project Coordinator for Community Development, Canada Ukraine Research Team and will write about the project on the education of students with “special needs”. Also, The New Pathway looks forward to her contribution of articles on her impressions and experiences while living abroad in Ukraine.