Discussion on inclusive education

September 23-24, a two-day roundtable on inclusive education issues in Ukraine was held at the ORT Educational Complex ¹141 in Kyiv. The meetings were attended by Mr. David Benish, Head of the ORT Representative office in Ukraine, honorary guests of Charitable Foundation “ORT”- international experts on the inclusive education - Mrs. Elana Glasenberg and Mr. Peter C. Mott, as well as teachers and specialists from ORT EC #141, and representatives of various state, non-profit and public organizations of Ukraine.

On the first day, international experts on inclusion got acquainted with the work of ORT EC and its specialists: speech therapist, psychologist and social educator, attended lessons in inclusive classes. A very fruitful meeting with the teachers and specialists and the parents' association of of ORT EC took place, there were discussed issues of inclusive education in the school, the problems specialists, parents and studentsare faced every day at school and their possible solutions.

On the second day the guests visited boarding school ¹ 26 of the Dniprovsky district of Kyiv - an unique educational institution where children with different nosologies study and successfully undergo rehabilitation and the inclusive resource center ¹ 2 of Darnytskyi district of Kyiv - the state center providing services to children with special educational needs.

In the afternoon, the discussion on existing issues in the field of inclusive education in Ukraine was continued during a roundtable with experts on inclusive education from different organizations of the city of Kyiv.

Summing up the meetings, Mrs. Glazenberg noted that such meetings are very important, because "all parts of inclusive education - both children and parents and teachers need mutual assistance". David Benish expressed his hope for the development of the project and further cooperation of all participants of the meetings: "The experience of other countries is very valuable, and we will use it, but each country has its own peculiarities, so your participation and assistance is extremely important to us ..."