Ukraine Educators to Visit Campus

A group of educators from Ukraine will be on campus Friday, Sept. 21, to learn about inclusive education and supporting the needs of youth with disabilities.

The visit is part of the Community Connections project of Legacy International, which provides support to organizations that improve long-term outcomes for communities and youth. The campus event is being hosted by the College of Education and Human Development's School of Teacher Education and Leadership (STEL).

Events planned by STEL faculty members will highlight how the university prepares future K-12 special educators, supports young people with disabilities in the community, and provides resources and support for students with disabilities on campus. The day will include a visit to Prices Fork Elementary School in Blacksburg to observe Radford's fifth-year special education program collaborating with teachers at the school. Radford University Provost Sam Minner will welcome the guests at an afternoon luncheon.

Darren Minarik, a STEL special education instructor, is coordinating the event with support from the special education staff. Minarik has worked with Legacy International on citizenship education and disability issues, including a trip to universities in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. He said involving Radford University with the organization will create opportunities for exchange of knowledge that could eventually lead to student exchanges, visiting professorships and joint publications and presentations.

Radford faculty and staff members making presentations include Kim Sheridan of the Training and Technical Assistance Center, Johnna Elliot and students from the On-Campus Transition Program, STEL faculty members Kenna Colley, Dana Rose, Sharon Gilbert, Leslie Daniel and Ellen Austin; and Angela DeVore-Greene of the Disability Resource Office.

Community Connections programs promote public diplomacy through sharing values and ideas between families in the United States, participating countries and community hosts. Participants include entrepreneurs, government officials, legal professionals, nongovernmental organization leaders and more. Among nations besides Ukraine that partner in the program are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

To learn more, email Minarik at dminarik@radford.edu or call (540) 831-7660.