VI National Abilympics in Russia

abilympicsRUSSIA

VI National Abilympics in Russia

T he international Abilympics non-profit movement originated in Japan in early 1970s as a result of the country's inclusive growth policy taking into account the interests of all segments of the population,

which includes the least well-off and protected.The National and International Abilympics

championships for mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities are held in order to stimulate social and economic activity in society, to raise awareness about the problems of people with disabilities and to change traditional views on their potential and abilities, as well as to increase their employment opportunities.

Since 1981, nine International Abilympics championships have been held with participants from 50 different countries/regions.

The Russian Federation is interested in integrating efforts to promote the Abilympics movement, as well as in exchanging experience on the organization and implementation of measures aimed at developing an inclusive system of vocational education.

In 2015 Russia joined the International Abilympic Federation and since then has hosted Abilympics championships both at the regional and federal levels.

In 2019 Russia got the right to host the X International Abilympics.

By 2020, 332 regional championships were held in 85 regions of the Russian Federation, in which more than 27,000 contestants took part. More than 38,000 people participated in the career guidance activities of these championships. Six National Abilympics were successfully held in Russia.

The Minister of Education of the Russian Federation is the head of the Organizing Committee for the National Abilympics. The Organizing Committee includes representatives of various federal and regional state authorities, all-Russian public organizations of people with disabilities and leading educational organizations.

Organizational Committees have been established in regions of the Russian Federation under the authority

of deputy governors, chairmen or deputy chairmen of the government, Coordinating Councils of Employers, Regional Development Centers of the Abilympics Movement, Abilympics volunteer centers and Regional Abilympics Education Centers for Judges.

Regional Organizational Committees determine the date and place of the Regional Abilympics, approve the organizational plan for the competition, and approve the list of skill competences in regions of the Russian Federation. The Coordinating Councils of Employers ensure the assignment of each of the skill competences of partner companies and assist in employment of participants and winners of Abilympics competitions in regions of the Russian Federation. The Regional Development Centers of the Abilympics Movement provide the development of the Abilympics competition system in regions of the Russian Federation. They organize and hold Regional Abilympics. The Volunteer Abilympics Centers train volunteers and coordinate their activities during the Regional Abilympics and provide volunteer support to regional events with the participation of mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities. The Regional Abilympics Education Centers for Judges carry out educational activities and are empowered by the Abilympics National Center of the Russian Federation to implement additional professional training programs for experts.

Volunteer centers work according to the “Abilympics Volunteer” methodology in each of 85 regions of the Russian Federation. This methodology is designed to provide support for championships and help change attitudes towards people with disabilities in the society.

The mission of the Abilympics movement is to increase the social activity of people with disabilities, provide jobs, and enable them to improve their professional skills.

The main task is to draw the attention of the authorities, the public and employers to the problems of people with disabilities in the field of vocational education and employment.

About AbIlympIcs

abilympics RUssia — № 5 1

The story of the 9th International Abilympics9th International Abilympics competition was held in

Bordeaux — France — in 2016. A memorable experience for an event organizer…

The 9th International Abilympics an event unlike any other…an event with a strong social mission, a huge challenge to change people’s perceptions on disabled people at work.

It is a competition, but this is primarly a story rich with incredible characters who pursued their dreams and used their skills to the best of their abilities.

Professional talents from all over the world working in unison to show that everything is possible !

Key figures : • 2 years of preparation• More than 45 000 msq installed at the heart of the Bordeaux

Exhibition Center• 50 000 visitors, 465 contestants, more than 5 000 people

involved in the event• 5 poles, 48 skills, more than 3000 hours of competition, more

than 10 000 evaluation criteria reviewed by judges• More than: 700 volunteers, 100 partners, 85 exhibitors, 70

artists: dancers, singers, acrobats, musicians, magicians…For their country, for their team, for their self-esteem, for

their self-confidence, for their future, for those they love… They excelled and shone in the most beautiful manner. They learned, and matured too… Every single one of them, medal or not, deserves an ovation.

Because contributing to changing the perception of disabilities also means showing the vast number of professional possibilities, contemplating new pathways opening up, and careers taking shape.

The road to integration may seem long and steep, but there were many encouraging and promising testimonies, filled with accounts of challenges and performances.

Benoit ROGER Event & International manager

Abilympics France

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MAgAzIne TeAM:

Dina Makeeva, editor-in-chiefLarisa Achkanova, managing editorAnastasia Litsoeva, editorAnna Pivovar, journalistIrina Pozhidaeva, journalistTatiana Laden, journalistDaryana Novosyolova, journalistKorotkov Evgenii, designer

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The History of the International Abilympics movement

Abilympics movement in Russia: how it started

VI National Abilympics in Russia

Abilympics Volunteers: how to become a volunteer and why they are needed

Judges of Abilympics

National Judges

Not a step backwards, never look back and never give up. Interview with Denis Evdokimov, the Abilympics champion

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19 Pavel Sakharov, the Prize-winner of the International Abilympics: “Being an artist is my true purpose”

“This is a holiday for participants”. Socialization of people with disabilities through cybathletics

Founder of the project “Languages Without Borders”: “What we do often has nothing to do with the current conditions, but rather contrary to it”

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the hIstoRy of the INteRNAtIoNAl AbIlympIcs moVemeNt

OUR HISTORY

Goals of the Abilympics movement are:1 Elevate the desire of persons with

disabilities for vocational independence and improve their vocational skills;

2 Enhance public understanding on the vocational abilities of persons with disabilities and their participation in socio-economic activities;

3 Support full participation of persons with disabilities in society, with special focus on their employment promotion;

4 Promote international exchange and friendship among participants;

5 Ensure the involvement of the respective governments in the improvement of vocational skills and promotion of employment of persons with disabilities.

Within the framework of the movement, national and International Abilympics championships in professional excellence among people with disabilities are held for this purpose.

The first National Abilympics Competition hosted by Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers was held in 1972. The purpose of the event was to develop the professional skills of people with disabilities and stimulate their socio-economic activity in society.

The experience and knowledge gained at National Abilympics Championships in Japan were used in the holding of the I International Abilympics in Tokyo in 1981, in honor of the International Year of Disabled People, organized by the United Nations (UN). The championship was attended by 304 contestants from 49 countries/regions. Competitions were held in 17 skill competences. The event received extensive support from governmental and non-governmental organizations in the country. The Emperor of Japan acted as the patron of this competition.

The II International Abilympics was held in October 1985 in Bogota (Colombia). In order to hold the opening and closing ceremonies of the championship, a special venue was built. 47 countries/regions supported the championship. The competition was attended by 281 people in 12 skill competences. During the championship, arose an idea to create an international organization, the purpose of which would be to hold the International Abilympics championships on a regular basis.

Four years later, in August 1989 Hong Kong hosted the III International Abilympics. 497 contestants from 37 countries/regions of the world took part

in the competition. The event was held under the motto: “Equality through participation”. It was the III International Abilympics that marked the birth of the tradition of creating mottos.

After the III International Abilympics, the International Abilympic Federation (IAF) was created in 1991. It is coordinated by the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers. The IAF is governed by the International Abilympic Federation Constitution and the Rules for Implementation of International Abilympics.

President Tabata Kazuo leads the IAF with administrative functions performed by the IAF Secretariat, while the strategic tasks are decided by the IAF Executive Committee consisting of 12 representatives from various countries/regions. At the same time, collegiate decisions in the IAF on admitting new members and giving the right to host the International Abilympics championships are made by the IAF Assembly, which includes organizations from 50 countries/regions and organization Rehabilitation International.

Australia received the right to become the organizer of the IV International Abilympics by a collegiate decision of

The International Abilympics non-profit movement originated in Japan in 1971. This movement was initiated by the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers, JEED. The name of the movement is an abbreviation from “Olympics of Abilities”.

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OUR HISTORY

the Assembly. The championship was held in September 1995 in Perth with the participation of 412 contestants from 25 countries/regions. Competitions were held in 37 skill competences, under the motto: “A world working together”.

Then the right to host the international championship was passed to the Czech Republic. The V International Abilympics was held in Prague in August 2000. 375 participants from 21 countries/regions competed in 46 skill competences.

The motto of the next VI International Abilympics held in November 2003 in India was the phrase: “We can and we will”. The championship was attended by 424 contestants from 23 countries/regions. Competitions were held in 44 skill competences.

The host of the next international championship was Japan. 23 countries/regions participated in the VII International Abilympics that was held in November 2007 in Shizuoka. 365 contestants competed in 27 skill competences. The motto of the championship was: “Brilliant skills, shining individuals realizing a society for all”. The championship was held together with the World Skills competition.

The VIII International Abilympics was held in September 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. 447 contestants from 36 countries/regions competed in 36 skill competences. The motto was: “Unlimited challenge to the world”.

The IX International Abilympics was held in March 2016 in Bordeaux, France. For the first time, the Russian Federation took part in the championship. 465 contestants from 31 countries/regions in 50 skill competences took part in the championship. The motto: “Common skills, uncommon people”.

In 2019, the Russian Federation received the right to become an organizer of the X International Abilympics. Since 2015 the National Abilympics championships have been held in Russia annually.

By order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated January 29, 2020 the Plan for the development and implementation of the International Abilympics was approved.

In accordance with the IAF Constitution, the Russian Federation assumed responsibility for ensuring the following parameters within the framework of the International Abilympics:

organize competitions in professional skills, in skills in the field of hobbies and other events (such as exhibitions and conferences);

55 skill competences (45 major and 10 presentation competences among them) were agreed with the IAF.

Having received the right to be the host of the X International Abilympics, Russia has assumed the following obligations:

follow the objectives of the IAF Constitution, namely to ensure fair competition, protection of health and personal information of participants, especially information related to disability;

ensure the duration of the International Abilympics (approximately five days, taking into account the opening and closing ceremonies, the duration of

competitions for each category should not exceed six hours).

Given the current situation with the pandemic, most countries/regions reported the need to postpone the championship to 2022.

The Russian Federation is doing its best to develop and implement the X International Abilympics. Its significance cannot be overestimated, both for the Russian Federation and for the development of the international Abilympics movement as a whole.

The International Abilympics for mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities is a significant social project for people with disabilities. This event is comparable to the Paralympic Games, as a result of which sought-after professions are identified, the professional skills of people with disabilities are improved and the directions of international exchange and strengthening friendship between participants are developed. In such a way, the international Abilympics movement keeps developing.

RussiaX International Abilympics

1981 1985

2011 2022

1989

2016

JapanI International Abilympics

ColombiaII International Abilympics

Hong KongIII International Abilympics

South KoreaVIII International Abilympics

FranceIX International Abilympics

1995

Australia IV International Abilympics

2007

Japan VII International Abilympics

2000

The Czech RepublicV International Abilympics

2003

IndiaVI International Abilympics


OUR HISTORY

AbIlympIcs moVemeNt IN RussIA: hoW It stARteDThe State has the task of stimulating the social and economic activity of society in order to draw attention to the problems of people with disabilities, to change traditional views on their professional opportunities, to create a barrier-free environment and real conditions for the employment and career development of mentally and/or physically challenged people.

F irst of all, it is important to draw the attention of public authorities, the public and employers to the problems of people with disabilities

in the field of vocational education and employment.

International experience suggests that holding the Abilympics championships has a serious impact on the perception of people with disabilities in society. The Abilympics movement covers about 25% of the world (50 countries/regions are members of the International Abilympic Federation).

2014Russia joined the international Abilympics movement at the initiative of such public organizations of people with disabilities as the All-Russian Society of the Deaf, the

All-Russian Society of the Blind, the All-Russian Society of Persons with Disabilities, the Russian Club of Psychiatrists, the Education-Society Foundation and other authoritative organizations engaged in supporting mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities in the Russian Federation. The leaders of these organizations became part of the governing council, the purpose of which was to implement the principles of the international Abilympics movement in Russia.

On December 7, 2014 the Presentational Abilympics was held in Moscow, where 72 people participated in 18 skill competences. The championship was attended by students of educational organizations of secondary professional education. This event marked the beginning of the annual holding of the Abilympics championships at the regional and federal levels.

2015At the end of January 2015, representatives of the Education Society Foundation and public organizations of people with disabilities participated in an international conference in Strasbourg, France, where they familiarized themselves with the goals, objectives and philosophy of the international Abilympics movement. During the first half of 2015, members of the Abilympics Governing Council attended the WorldSkills Championships in France, Brazil, and visited the headquarters of the International Abilympic Federation in Tokyo (Japan) in order to adopt experience for developing and implementing Regional and National Abilympics.

In the second half of 2015, the first Regional and National Abilympics championships were held in the Russian Federation in Moscow, the Moscow Region,

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OUR HISTORY

the Republic of Bashkortostan, Stavropol Territory, and Chelyabinsk Region.

The I National Abilympics was held on December 4–6, 2015 in Moscow on the site of the International Exhibition Center Crocus Expo. The competition was attended by 295 contestants from 29 regions of the Russian Federation. Competitions were held in 30 professional competences. Organizational and financial support for the championship was provided by the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Moscow Region.

For the first time in the history of the international Abilympics movement the championship was visited by Colin Allen, the President of the World Federation

of the Deaf. He took part in the business program and noted the importance and effectiveness of the championship and the high level of organization of the event.

2016502 contestants from 62 regions of the Russian Federation took part in the competitive program of the II National Abilympics (55 schoolchildren, 359 students, 88 specialists among them).

2016 was marked by the fact that the Abilympics National Team of the Russian Federation participated in the IX International Abilympics in Bordeaux (France) for the first time, where our team won three bronze medals in the skill competences Welding, Hairdressing and Character Design. Russian participants received invaluable professional experience at the world level.

2017In 2017 Regional Development Centers of the Abilympics Movement, as well as volunteer centers, were created in 83 regions of the Russian Federation. Regional Abilympics championships were held in 73 regions of the Russian Federation, and Coordinating Councils of Employers were formed in 52 regions. 15,840 people from 36 regions of the Russian Federation took part in the career guidance program of regional competitions in 2017. As a result of the championships an expert community, which marked a new stage in the development of the Abilympics movement in Russia was created. 74 companies became partners of the National Abilympics. These companies have provided equipment for venues and provided experts to evaluate the qualifications of participants. A special section on the employment of Abilympics participants appeared on the “Work in Russia” website.

2018The IV National Abilympics was held from 20 till 23 of November, 2018 in Moscow. The championship was attended by 1157 contestants from 84 regions of the Russian Federation. The championship took place in the Hall A of the 75th pavilion of VDNKh (the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy) and on the 6 additional sites: Russian State Social University, Educational Complex of Urban Planning “Capital”, Ovchinnikov Polytechnic College, College of Advanced Technology No. 21, Panov College of Modern Technologies,


OUR HISTORY

and Metropolitan College of Industry and Hospitality. Teams from 84 regions of the Russian Federation took part in the IV National Abilympics Championship.

The competitions were held in 57 major and in 16 presentation competences. On the site of the 75th pavilion of VDNKh were presented 35 major competences, 16 presentation ones, a business program for participants, master classes, a job fair, recreation and catering areas, the opening and closing ceremonies of the championship, and lectures. Competitions in 22 skills with complex equipment (Welding, Turning Work, Mechanical Fitting, Dry Construction and Plastering, Paintwork) were held at additional sites.

For the first time in 2018 was organized an online registration of participants and visitors for the business program of the championship. Everyone could register to participate in the business program as a participant or visitor on the official website through the form developed by the Abilympics National Center of the Russian Federation.

Over two days of events, the IV National Abilympics was attended by more than 10,000 people, of which more than 1,200 took part in educational and business programs, 150 speakers held meetings and round tables, trainings and lectures.

2019The V National Abilympics was held from November 20 to 22, 2019 in Moscow. The venues were the 75 pavilion of VDNKh and Tech City, Technological College No. 21, Educational Complex of Urban Planning

“Capital”, Russian State Social University and Ovchinnikov Polytechnic College.

The V National Abilympics was attended by teams of 85 regions of the Russian Federation. Competitions were held in 62 major and 31 presentation competences. The competition was attended by 1292 participants aged 14 to 66 years, of which 308 were specialists, 569 students and 415 schoolchildren. A visit to cultural facilities of Moscow with a sightseeing program was organized for the participants.

A job fair is held annually. Employers are actively involved in the process of developing task assignments and evaluation materials, allowing to formulate the employer's requirements for the participant in the competition and make changes to the content and implementation of educational programs.

2020The VI National Abilympics was held online for the very first time from 23 to 29 of November, 2020.

“Abilympics is not just a competition, it is an opportunity for mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities to demonstrate their skills in various skill competences, which contributes not only to increasing self-esteem and self-confidence of participants, but also helps them in further employment”, — said Dmitry Glushko, First Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation.

You can read about the championship in the article “VI National Abilympics in Russia”.

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VI NAtIoNAl AbIlympIcs IN RussIAThe VI National Abilympics in Russia was held in Moscow. The opening took place on the closed platform of the Amedia film studio online.

OUR CHAMpIOnSHIp

T he Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov was the first to take the stage at the official part of the event. He noted

the national, all-Russian coverage of the championship and called it a part of the large state work to support people with disabilities.

“Abilympics should not lag behind WorldSkills, where there are already more than 250 skill competencies. To a large extent, these championships differ only in the presence of special jobs adapted for people with various health features” — said Dmitry Glushko, First Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation at the plenary session of the VI National Abilympics.

He clarified that one of the most important tasks is to increase the number of young people competing and the number of movement experts.

“I hope that 20,000 participants in this championship will become experts of Abilympics: they have already shown their professionalism and that they are ready to motivate others”, said the First Deputy Minister.

Despite the fact that this year the championship was held online, the

organizers of the competition still gave the participants the opportunity to get to know each other. A relay of video greetings of teams was created for the express purpose of the organization, giving contestants a chance to thank their coaches and wish good luck to others.

Additionally, artists of Russian pop music performed at the opening ceremony. In general, more than 3,000 users throughout Russia joined the broadcast.

In order to ensure that the online format of the event does not cause problems for the participants, a mobile app was developed. It contained necessary information for the participant: his personal profile, program, speakers, news feed and chat. However, the main function of this app was to conduct online

broadcasts of programs for users from any part of the country.

During the championship, more than 2,000 people from 81 region of the country competed in 77 skill competencies. A business program was drawn up for each day of the championship.

For example, on the first day of the championship, a discussion “Improving the Quality of Education and Career Guidance for physically challenged people and persons with disabilities” was held online, as well as a session “Fashion of Special Purpose. Handmade VS Mass Market and other products for physically challenged people and persons with disabilities”. The purpose of public talk was to share the difficulties that people with disabilities face every day on the way to creation of their style. Famous speakers, including Ilya Czech and Alena Rusakova have not only sorted out the problem itself but also gave options for solving it.

On November 24 was held the panel discussion “Architectural accessibility of the city or Let's go for a walk without barriers” and a session “Digitalization in the life of people with disabilities: unlimited smartphone capabilities and other gadgets in pandemic conditions”.

Abilympics should not lag behind WorldSkills, where there are already more than 250 skill competencies

— Dmitry glushko, First Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation


Also on this day the first winners in several skill competences were announced.

The president of International Abilympic Federation Tabata Kazuo congratulated the organizers, guests and experts of the VI National Abilympics and expressed the hope that each participant will do their best to show themselves, and the skills of the participants themselves will serve as inspiration for other people.

The Head of the Republic of Ingushetia Mahmud-Ali Kalimatov joined in congratulating the participants. He noted that holding the championship was an excellent opportunity to show all the professional skills of the participants: “I would like to wish everyone to be successful, there should be one among equals who will come to victory. I would also like to wish everyone to increase their professionalism every year, as well as I would like to see an increase in the number of participants who would reach their goals that will become indispensable in everyday life”.

On November 24 St. Petersburg shared its experience in training and employing mentally and/or physically challenged people and persons with disabilities. The panel discussion was about how to attract people with disabilities to receive secondary vocational education and how to interest the employer in employing a mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities.

On November 25 a round table was held with trade unions of trade, catering, consumer cooperation and entrepreneurship workers of the Russian Federation “Trade Unity”. The round table was devoted to topical issues of young people employment, including those with disabilities. The organizer of the event was IKEA, which collaborates with Abilympics and provides jobs for the championship participants.

After the round table an agreement on assistance in employment, providing jobs and internships to the participants of the Abilympics championship was signed between Mikhail Kiselev, the head of the Central Headquarters of the youth all-Russian organization “Russian Student Detachments”, and Vyacheslav Mishin, the executive director of the Abilympics National Center of the Russian Federation.

The parties also agreed on working together in development and implementation of educational programs for additional vocational education, which is aimed at promoting the employment of people with disabilities.

Later, Mikhail Kiselev addressed a welcoming speech to the participants of the VI National Abilympics: “Each participant is already a winner, because he chooses an active life position and gives hope to others with their example. The most important thing is a great signal to society that people with disabilities are actually just as limitless, and the

borders present only in their heads. The Abilympics championship is an example of that!”

On November 25, in addition to these events, a panel discussion “Promoting the employment of graduates with disabilities, adapting them in the workplace”, as well as an expert session “Inclusive volunteering during pandemic, new approaches” were held.

On November 26 inclusive practices of the future, an independent assessment of the quality of education of mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities, as well as

OUR CHAMpIOnSHIp

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OUR CHAMpIOnSHIp

professions that will be in demand in the future together with Vladimir Filippov, the head of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Moscow were discussed.

The business program of the VI National Abilympics was also held in Kuzbass. Vasily Golubev, the Governor of the Rostov Region, greeted the participants of Abilympics and emphasized that the championship allows people with disabilities to show their common skills, professional skills and take the first steps in their careers.

The next day, a press conference on the progress of the VI National Abilympics in Russia was held.

Pavel Sakharov, the winner of the IX International Abilympics in Bordeaux, spoke on the opportunity that Abilympics gave him: “The competition gave me a great opportunity to try myself. In the future I might as well open my own business. Now I am engaged in the launch of cartoons and films for children. I have a big request to the administrative resources of organizations so that they do not turn away from deaf people, because deaf people are unique. They have a special sense of the world; they can do everything!”

For those interested in travelling on November 27 the Moscow Government organized a Tedtalk “A new look at Russia when everyone can travel”. Speakers figured out where mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities could start their journey and how to make the right route for their trip.

November 28 began with the speech of Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Governor of Sevastopol: “Hosting the Abilympics

championships is an opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities. The government of Sevastopol has always provided and will provide comprehensive support to the Abilympics movement”.

The Republic of Tatarstan also joined the events of the business program by holding an expert session “The system of inclusive education of the Republic of Tatarstan”. Razia Savchenko, director of Kazan Trade and Economic College, along with other speakers, discussed the path to the success of the basic professional educational organization, as well as the

socialization and employment of mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities.

Igor Gribanov, First Deputy Director — Head of the Abilympics National Center of the Russian Federation, created a post on his Facebook page where he spoke about the meeting of the coordinating council: “Agency of Strategic Initiatives, RUIE, Sberbank, TMR manufacturers and other partners also had a chance to say a word. We solve the issues of employment, safeguard the job and career support”.

November 29 was the last day of the championship. Dmitry Glushko, the First Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, attended the closing ceremony of the VI National Abilympics and noted that the championship was held in very challenging circumstances and had no analogues. He also announced an important news for all participants: the International Abilympics, which was to be held in 2021 in Moscow, was postponed for one year due to the spread of coronavirus.

“To date, work has been done with colleagues from the International Abilympic Federation regarding the International Abilympics, which was planned to be held in May next year in Moscow. Based on the situation with the pandemic in the countries of the world and the readiness of the countries to come, it was decided to postpone this championship for one year,” said Dmitry Glushko at the closing ceremony.

It is planned that in 2022 representatives from more than 30 countries will come to the championship.

At the closing ceremony were also announced the winners of the VI National Abilympics. In total, more than 2,000 people from 81 region of the Russian Federation took part in the championship, including 1097 students, 607 schoolchildren and 296 specialists.

Therefore, Abilympics increases the prestige of working professions each year. It develops vocational education and assistance in career guidance, socialization and employment of young people with disabilities.

You can see with your own eyes how the championship was held, and learn more about it on the official website and Telegram channel.

each participant is already a winner, because he chooses an active life position and gives hope to others with their example

— Mikhail Kiselev, the head of the Central Headquarters of the youth all-Russian organization “Russian Student Detachments”


OUR vOlUnTeeRS

AbIlympIcs VoluNteeRs: hoW to become A VoluNteeR AND Why they ARe NeeDeDNot a single large-scale Abilympics event and championships can do without the help of volunteers. The Abilympics volunteer movement is inclusive volunteering, which is one of the most important areas of social and economic development of society. Such volunteerism promotes the social integration of people with disabilities and helps overcome social exclusion and discrimination. Let’s find out about the Abilympics volunteer movement.

T he first stage of working with volunteers is their search and recruitment. This is done by the Volunteer Abilympics Centers. These are special

organizations that conduct independent work on the selection of volunteers in each individual region of the Russian Federation. To conduct an information campaign, they traditionally use social networks, websites of volunteer centers in Russia and a portal of volunteers. The news, infographics and videos about the activities of the Abilympics National Center of the Russian Federation are distributed, motivating everyone to join the team.

How to become an abilympics volunteer?

1 Fill out the application on the integrated website of the National Abilympics abilympicsrussia.ru. In addition to personal and contact information, it is necessary to indicate the volunteer center of your

region, the desired function, etc. After that, the volunteer center sees you as a registered volunteer.

2 After processing the application, the center employee will invite you to an interview to identify your skills and personal qualities.

3 Depending on the level of activity, you may need to go through additional testing. For example, one of the mandatory requirements at the International Abilympics will be the knowledge of English.

4 Wait for the formation and approval of volunteer groups and leaders responsible for each function.

“Our volunteers, who know and understand the peculiarities of work and communication with people with disabilities, help in creating equal society in Russia” — Natalia Klimokhina, Head of Organizational and Methodological Support Department of Abilympics National Centre of the Russian Federation.

After passing all the qualifying stages, the volunteer will have the

last and most responsible one — to undergo training in interaction with people with disabilities. This condition is mandatory for all persons who want to become volunteers at the Abilympics championships. Training is conducted by Volunteer Abilympics Centers organized in all regions of the Russian Federation, involving regional public organizations of people with disabilities. Volunteers acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully fulfill their duties in the form of lectures, practical sessions, presentations, discussions, role-playing games and consultations with specialists.

As indicated in the methodological materials of the Abilympics National Centre of the Russian Federation, “the creation of volunteer centers for inclusive volunteerism is a long-term project justified by the relevance of implementing programs aimed at creating an inclusive space in the regions of Russia. The project is based on the effective experience of the systematic implementation of inclusive volunteerism programs within the

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OUR vOlUnTeeRS

framework of the Abilympics movement. The main mission of volunteer centers of inclusive volunteerism is to effectively involve more volunteers in socially useful activities to participate in solving socially significant problems of society”.

The main motives for volunteering are (information taken from the website https://edu.dobro.ru):

Realization of personal potential. The realization of personal potential, the manifestation of the abilities and capabilities and the realization of human purpose should become leading motives for human participation in socially significant activities. An important role in maintaining this motivation belongs to a person's awareness of their own internal potential, the definition of a personal mission and the choice of a life path.

Public recognition and sense of social significance are important for a person to get positive reinforcement of their activities from significant people around them, to establish themselves in their own eyes and to feel their involvement in a common cause. The basis of this motivation is the need for a person in high self-esteem and in assessment by others. Such assessment plays an important role in a person's choice of goals and tasks of their own activity and direction of personal growth.

Self-expression and self-determination are the opportunity to prove yourself, to declare your life position and to find your place in the system of public relations. A person's need for awareness of their own personality, the uniqueness of their inner world and the desire to play a role in society, according to their personality, is the basis for motivation of self-expression and self-determination.

If we are talking about professional orientation, volunteerism allows a person, especially a young one, to better

navigate various types of professional activities, get a real idea of the intended profession or choose the direction of vocational training.

Acquisition of useful social and practical skills. Volunteer activities allow you to acquire useful skills that are not directly related to a person's professional choice, but that are important in life. These include the acquisition of computer skills with various types of equipment, building skills and experience of interpersonal interaction. The need for the activity and social development of the surrounding world, in the use of all the opportunities provided to a person by society, is one of the urgent needs of modern people.

However, it often happens that a person wants to contribute to the development of society and help people, but that person is not sure that they have the necessary qualities and skills. Then the question involuntarily arises: what qualities should the volunteer

have? This person must love, appreciate and realize the equality of people who do not have any mental and/or physical challenges, and those who have them. To this most important quality for a potential volunteer, perhaps it is worth adding responsibility and tolerance, kindness and the presence of a high cultural level, the ability to work in a team and flexibility. If you want to volunteer and have these personal qualities, then the acquisition of some skills and knowledge becomes only a matter of time.

According to the organizers working with volunteers mentally and/or physically challenged children and children with disabilities are one of the most motivated volunteers who prove themselves that they are not inferior to the rest of the children in anything, but even better in some areas.

It is impossible to argue that the work of volunteers is a huge work, especially at events such as the Abilympics Championships, where interaction skills with people with disabilities are so necessary. But even despite this, more and more children, starting from school age, decide to become part of the volunteer movement. It is nor surprising, because volunteers are people who want to help and see the result of their help. They do not want to waste time and joy brings them the feeling of involvement in something global and important.

Natalia Klimokhina shares her vision of why volunteer labor is so valuable: “The government provides support, we see more and more citizens with active life position who become volunteers, including in Abilympics. In the future, we will look closely at the topic of a single inclusive space and opportunities for children to become volunteers of Abilympics”.

Our volunteers, who know and understand the peculiarities of work and communication with people with disabilities, help in creating equal society in Russia

— natalia Klimokhina, Head of Organizational and Methodological Support Department of Abilympics National Centre of the Russian Federation.


OUR JUDgeS

JuDges of AbIlympIcsAbilympics is a unique event that provides professional orientation and motivation for people with disabilities to vocational education, promoting their employment and socio-cultural inclusion in society.

J udging at Abilympics is an important part of its internal infrastructure. It includes management of newcomers, creation

of the task assignments and monitoring the relations in the community. Such a system on an ongoing basis ensures the selection, preparation, coordination and management of volunteers before and after local projects of the Abilympics championship. Judging introduces the best practices of the championship movement into the educational process: control and measuring materials, professional training, formation of a system of lifelong education for people with disabilities. Mentoring helps participants prepare for competitions. Mentors are always next to their students. They share their skills, find supportive words if their student fails. The system also aims at promoting new forms of career guidance using the technology of professional skills competitions among mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities. It allows to increase the level of professional skills through the introduction of the best practices of Abilympics competitions in the educational process, and helps to expand the types of professional activities through the interaction with employers and partners, as well as by concluding deferred employment contracts and organizing internships for participants. The coaches are faculty and volunteer students of the

Russian State Social University. In addition, many participants of the championships also become coaches and mentors.

In order to become a coach, industry specialists are trained in professional retraining and advanced training programs. For example, employees of institutions whose education does not meet the requirements of professional standards are retrained under the “Social work” programs according to the specialization “Social work specialist” and “Social work” according to the specialization “Management of social service organization”. Training is also provided under the advanced training program called “Group and individual forms of work with children and adolescents to overcome aggressive behavior”. All specialists who have successfully completed their training

receive certificates of advanced training. Moreover, in 2020 for the first time a full-distance advanced training course “Practical psychology in social services institutions” was held. Specialists had the opportunity to not only listen to lectures and watch webinars, but also take a direct part in trainings and master practical methods of work.

Natalya Gracheva from Moscow trains students in Industrial Robotics skill competence. She shared her experience.

— please, tell us about your path to judging? Where did you start and was it difficult?

— I began my work and expert activities in professional skills competitions in 2016. Then I worked as a teacher, prepared

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OUR JUDgeS

students of the Nizhnekamsk Industrial College for the Worldskills championship in Industrial Robotics, where they took first and second places at the regional and first place at the national championships. Then, my pupils began to take prizes in various competences (Industrial Robotics, Robotic Welding, Digital Metrology) at professional competitions such as Abilympics and Worldskills annually. I discovered the Abilympics movement in 2017. At the beginning, this movement interested me as a speech pathologist and then as an engineer (I have degrees in both engineering and speech pathology), because the mentor-trainer has several tasks to do, and none of them are simple: you need to prepare the basis so that participant would be able to master educational program, which includes the work with a psychologist, speech pathologist, speech therapist, sign language translators. You also need to adapt the educational program to the capabilities of the participant; apply knowledge from a new profession to the base prepared by narrow specialists; work with participants so that they can use this knowledge in different state and emergency situations. I saw great potential for myself in the Abilympics movement as a mentor — participant receives a ticket to a new life with a new profession. With

regard to difficulties, there were issues with participants who had hearing impairments. It is difficult to explain to them technical terms in foreign languages, but, working in a team with professional sign language translators and psychologists, we have developed methods that allow persons with hearing issues and everyone who does not know our language to master the profession of Industrial Robotics in a short time.

— Did anything interesting happen during training?— It is hard to say. Each training is both hard work and pleasure. Even though for participants it was a surprise to come back to studies to develop their skills in order to work in this profession after winning the competition.

— And as for the participants, were there any memorable students? Maybe there were some difficult cases when people did not believe in themselves, and then found strength and achieved great results?— As for the participants, basically all children who come to me are children in a hopeless situation, because they have nowhere to go, they are not taken anywhere, since these children have certain disabilities: they may have

hearing impairment, they may be visually challenged and they might have problems with the musculoskeletal system. They are not invited to study in good universities, so the first thing I see in their eyes is fear, which must be fought with. That is why after we work with them and remove this fear, they all begin to believe in themselves after the first class, because each of them receives results and achieves something new. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I do not have those who achieved nothing: there are no flunkers, only A-plus students. We explain as many times as children need to understand what we need from them, otherwise I cannot work. Therefore, I have no special students that I would particularly remember: they are all equal to me. I always try to understand my students, I try to hear them, so that they, in turn, can hear me.

— What are the features of your skill competence? And how do trainings go?— Industrial Robotics and robots are increasingly used in factories and enterprises. They are used to perform control and movement functions in various manufacturing processes. Their main feature is that they do not get tired. Robots can work around the clock without any human participation, because for their functioning only a laid-back program is needed. They can only perform certain actions, but they are most often used in automated production systems. By using robots, it is possible to create a full production cycle that provides performance and accuracy at the highest level possible. Moreover, errors in production made by people are almost completely excluded. Training takes place in internal-remote mode according to the schedule in the regions on the sites of the participants. At the moment, the participants of the national team are from the Republic of Tatarstan and Moscow. Everyone has great potential. According to the results of the qualifying competitions within the national team, the best will take part in the X International Abilympics in 2022.


OUR JUDgeS

NAtIoNAl JuDgesThe goal of the Abilympics championships is professional orientation and employment of mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities. However, as in any competition, there are winners in the championship.

Judges of different categories evaluate the skill and profes-sionalism of the contestants. The coordinating judges are appointed by the Coordinating

Council of Employers of the National Abilympics, which facilitates the involvement of employers in the competition system.

Abilympics has created several councils that oversee the competition at different stages. Some of them create task assignments and scoring criteria.

In the regions of the Russian Federation, councils maintain national judge register, develop documents and materials, and also synthesize analytical data from different regions already in a national council.

The National Abilympics in Russia includes a competitive part, which consists of competitions in the major competences. Participants should demonstrate certain professional skills. Presentation competences are also important: there it is necessary to demonstrate their skills in new

areas in which Abilympics competitions have not been held before.

It is these parts that judges evaluate. This is done at two levels: national and regional.

In order to participate in the competitive program of the Abilympics championships in Russia, it is necessary to pass the selection procedure in accordance with the Charter of Judges of the Abilympics championships in Russia approved by the working group.

The Coordinating Council of Employers at the regional or national level approves the coordinating judges on competences at the appropriate level. They, in turn, organize the work of other judges on the championship site and take part in the assessment of participants in different competences.

Those judges evaluating participants are elected from representatives of employers, educational organizations or public associations of people with disabilities.

There are several requirements for a candidate aspiring to be the judge of

Abilympics championships in Russia. Most importantly, it is independence. An important role is played by the experience of participation as a judge earlier and professionalism, which implies experience in a certain area for more than 5 years. In order to take up an honorary position, appropriate education and special knowledge in the professional field are required. The concluding factor is the knowledge of the basics of interaction with people with disabilities of various ICD diseases and the experience of training people with disabilities.

The rights and duties of judges include a large number of tasks: communication with the press, advanced training and the most important — evaluation on the site.

The evaluation process itself consists of several stages. First of all, it is the creation of a task assignment and the scoring criteria. Then, on the site of the championship, three judge groups are selected by draw, thus each contestant is evaluated.

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OUR JUDgeS

Ravila sabirovaHairdressing

— How did you end up in Abilympics?

— I came to Abilympics in 2015 thanks to Lydia Frolova. She invited me to the very first Pres-entational Abilympics champi-onship, which was held in 2014 at the Capital College.

The first championship was held in 2015 at the large Crocus venue. Abilympics began its existence as an aid to mentally and/or physically challenged people and people with disabilities in employment. This was the very first importance of the movement. Since the first year, there have been many participants, but now there are many more. If at the beginning there were 45 competences, as far as I remember, now there are 72. 85 regions participate. That’s wonderful! After all, the movement gives people the opportunity to realize themselves, to feel useful. It encourages them to look into the future with confidence.

— Why did you choose this area?— Hairdressing is my favorite profession, that I’ve known since 1979. First I worked in the barbershop, and now I have been teaching for almost ten years.

— What motivates you to be part of Abilympics?— I get direct motivation from those guys who strive for success in the profession. I have my students who are very interested in the craft. I know each of my students, I keep in touch with them. They are very interested, they are trying so hard and keep developing. I watch them grow professionally with great interest. After all, none of them quit hairdressing despite the fact that there are many nuances in our profession.

— Is it difficult to evaluate the work of people with disabilities?— When you see a professional in front of you, it’s not difficult at all. We do not make a discount on their disability or limitations. Why? Because we must give them a ticket to life, open the path on which they can enter the profession and have a chance to do their

favorite business. At the championship, they gain confidence in themselves, gain new knowledge and start to feel that they can go forward and become the best.

— What participants do you remember more than others?— I can tell you a little about Denis Evdokimov. He became the winner of the I National Abilympics, and after that he took part in the IX International Abilympics in Bordeaux, France, where he won the bronze medal.

He is actively working in this profession and keeps on improving himself. He

came back at the V National Abilympics, but in a specialist category this time and became the first in Russia again.

Denis Evdokimov is part of the Russian National Team. We are preparing for the X International Abilympics, which will take place in 2022.

It is impossible to forget such people who love their profession, who are masters of their craft. You always remember them.

— Do you have any favorites?— It’s hard to say, because it’s a very creative profession. Everyone works differently. Everyone should have the professionalism and creativity.

— How long have you been judging at the championship?— I have been judging national and regional championships since 2015. In 2016, I was judging at the IX International Abilympics. My life is already closely related to Abilympics. One can say we keep up with it.

— please, tell us how the championship has been transformed during your judging.— First, the number of participants has grown greatly. In the first year, it seems to me, there were 700 people in total and now there are 2500 of us. This is really a huge movement in which mentally and/or physically challenged people can participate.

Second, the complexity of task assignments has been transformed. Every year, the task assignments for the

participants become more complicated. However, I am glad that this does not scare them at all. They do not stop there and go forward, keep developing.

Abilympics is designed not only for children with disabilities, but also for adults. People have the right to participate in the competition from the age of 14 to 65. Everyone finds their own meaning in participation, their own goal: someone does this for employment, someone does this for self-approval and someone does this in order to move forward. Everyone treats the championship differently, but everyone is united by a desire to work, learn, improve themselves and go forward. Acquaintances always serve as a pleasant bonus of competitions. The guys manage to make new friends, while participating in completely different competences, and they keep in touch with each other.


— Denis, please tell us a little about yourself. How did you find your way? How have you got into the profession? And when did you realize that you have made the right decision?— It was my conscious decision. I was confident and found hairdressers on the Internet. I immediately fell in love with this profession and realized that I wanted to become a stylist.

— Does your family support you in your chosen profession?— They support me. I believe in myself. I am the best and I will succeed! Whatever happens, the dream will come true!

— Who did you dream of becoming as a child?— Since childhood, I loved to braid hair and to make hairstyles on dolls. I even sewed clothes for them. I liked to create beautiful hairstyles with my own hands so that people could get the joy of my work. The dream has come true.

— What were your favorite subjects at school?— Physical Education, Physics and Literature. I really like sports, namely swimming. I took swimming seriously. Eventually I became a master of sports in swimming, so at first I wanted to become a coach.

— What is your education?— South-West Educational Complex, hairdresser.

— What are the things you can never live without?

— I can't imagine my life without doing what I love the most.

— What motivates you?— I want to have my own barbershop, where I could invite people to learn to become a barber. I like to share my skill in creating beautiful hairstyles with my own hands.

— What motto do you have?— Not a step backwards, never look back and never give up.

— How did you find out about Abilympics? please, tell us how did you get in the Regional Development Center of the Abilympics Movement? Was it a positive experience?— I learned about Abilympics in college when the hairdresser Ravila Sabirova offered me to participate in the I National

Abilympics. Me and my colleagues started to prepare. I won 1st place in this championship. Surely I had a positive experience. Abilympics has become a part of my life. In 2016 as part of the Russian National Team, I travelled to Bordeaux, France to participate in the IX International Abilympics where I became a bronze medalist. Currently, I am very attached to Abilympics. I participated in the V National Abilympics and became the champion of Russia. Now I am a member of the Russian National Team and I prepare to participate in the X International Abilympics which will be held in Moscow in 2022.

— How do you train? Can you describe the process?— I train in the semi-remote format. If I train at home, I send photos of the work to the coach or come to the South-West

OUR WInneRS

Not A step bAckWARDs, NeVeR look bAck AND NeVeR gIVe up

Denis Evdokimov is 28 years old. Denis has hearing impairment but it did not prevent him from becoming a talented hairdresser. In 2015, he became the champion of the I National Abilympics. And just a year later, at the IX International Abilympics in Bordeaux (France), he brought a bronze medal for the Russian team in the Hairdressing skill category. Today Denis works in Moscow barbershop “Nika”. He collaborates with Russian stars and takes part in a television show. We talked with him about life, motivation and how participation in Abilympics has changed his life.

INteRVIeW WIth DeNIs eVDokImoV, the AbIlympIcs chAmpIoN

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Abilympics. What do you feel about it? Can you call it an event that changes something in life?— The championship gave me confidence. I have hearing impairment, and nevertheless I work as a hairdressing artist-fashion designer in one of the beauty salons of Moscow.

— In addition to the Abilympics championships, did you participate in other competitions? If the answer is yes, then in which ones?— I participated in professional competitions “Nevsky Coast” and in the Championship of Moscow.

— Do you often face difficulties? Who helps you?— If I have any difficulties, my coach Ravila Sabirova is there to help.

— Are there people in your profession you look up to?— I really like how Nikolai Isak, George Kot and others work. Hairdresser is such a profession that it is necessary to study constantly, there is no room for complacency.

— Do you currently work? If the answer is positive, where do you work?— Now I rarely work in the “Nika” barbershop. I also teach future stylists.

— What shows and exhibitions did you participate in? What stars did you work with? Are you invited somewhere as an expert?— I worked with Kristina Orbakaite, Anastasia Zavorotnyuk, Buranovskiye Babushki, and also with Nikolai Mostov. I worked on the reality show “Our people in Hollywood” and in the fashion show of High Fashion Week.

— What do you want to do in the future? How do you envision yourself in 3 years?— They say, the one who wants to tell about his plans can make God laugh.

— How do you like to spend your free time?— I like to lie on the beach, get a suntan, eat fruits and vegetables and do nothing. I like to visit museums and exhibitions. I also like to discover and study new places or cities.

OUR WInneRS

Educational Complex and train with the coach in person. We discuss work, select dyes, work out all the dyeing nuances. We also work on an allocated time constraint.

— please, tell us about the Abilympics championships.— This is a competition where the strongest should win. I like the organization — everything is made so that the contestants are comfortable and safe to compete. In Russia everything is organized just as well as in France. I did not see any particular difference.

— You became the bronze medalist of the IX International


OUR WInneRS

pAVel sAkhARoV, the pRIze-WINNeR of the INteRNAtIoNAl AbIlympIcs: “beINg AN ARtIst Is my tRue puRpose” pavel Sakharov, the participant of International Abilympics, sets an example that hearing impairments do not interfere with self-realization. Among his works as an animator there is the creation of the social video of the Ministry of Health “Hell’s Squirrel”, which has received millions of views on YouTube; participation in the animated cartoon series “Masha and the Bear”, drawing the characters of “Be-be-bears” and many others. The prize-winner of the championship and a graduate of the State Specialized Institute of Arts shared his success story in an interview with the correspondent of the Abilympics Russia magazine.

— pavel, please tell us, where do you work?— I have been working in Soyuzmultfilm as a leading 3D animator for 3 years.

— How do you organize your work?— I come to work, greet my colleagues and make coffee, while watching Disney studio cartoons to charge my brain. Then I read the assignment from the director and start creating animation.

— Since when have you been working in the field of animation?— In 2007 I worked in an aerography studio. In three years, I managed to paint

more than fifty cars. In addition, I worked on pictures in the interior. During my time in the studio, I got a lot of experience both in work and in communication. Then colleagues advised me to take a closer look at the interesting profession of an animated cartoon artist. I became interested and began to gradually master animation. I was training, studying new programs and increasing my professional level. Once done, I was entrusted to work in serious projects, such as: “Hell's Squirrel”, “Masha and the Bear”, “Be-be-bears”, “Booba”, “Alice Knows What To Do” and “Sputnik”. I worked a lot on various projects in various studios. I even

had a chance to work at the Mosfilm studio.

— What events of your life have prompted the choice of this kind of career?— It was only when I turned twenty, I understood that my true purpose was to be an artist. I studied at an individual drawing course from the famous graphic designer Viktor Britvin. We studied every Sunday and only for a year, but this year was an experience of a lifetime. I've changed a lot since then. It's like finding the gold master key to the secret door. I realized that the ability to draw is my

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OUR WInneRS

gift, and I began to develop it. I will always remember this period and I am very grateful to my teacher.

— What difficulties did you face while studying?— History and Literature were especially difficult. At the institute, where I enrolled in 2007, it became easier to study, because the lectures were translated by a sign language interpreter. In 2013 I successfully defended a graduation thesis and received a recommendation for joining the Union of Designers of Russia. It meant a lot for me. It was great that my work was so highly appreciated.

— Can you please tell us about your participation in the International Abilympics? Who helped you participate? How did you prepare? What did you feel at the championship?— While I worked in the studio, I did not hear anything about Abilympics. And I still have no idea who told me about it. One day Lidia Frolova, the president of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization Abilympics visited our studio and offered to participate in the International

Abilympics. I was very interested in this proposal. I thought, why not? And I agreed. I spent about two weeks preparing for the competition. I am especially grateful to Natalya Lipatova, the head of Regional Development Center of the Abilympics Movement in Moscow Region, who has always helped me.

— What has changed in your life after participating in the championship?— In 2016 I participated in the IX International Abilympics. There were participants from different countries. I was especially impressed by a participant from South Korea, we immediately got acquainted and became friends. As a

blitz

Favorite movie: the best dramas that will make me cry.

Favorite song: I love furious music, especially foreign music of the nineties. I listen to rock a lot lately, it comforts me.

Favorite quote: “What difference does it make, who is stronger, who is smarter, who is more beautiful, who is richer? In the end, it only matters whether you are a happy person or not”.

result of the competition, he won first place. I saw for the first time in my life how fast one can draw! It inspired me to work on my skills. Just imagine, I used to paint a picture in two days, and now I spend one hour and it's ready. Therefore, Abilympics turned out to be very useful for me.

— Will you participate in the championship again?— In 2022 I plan to take part in the International Abilympics for the

last time. I already have quite a lot of experience.

— What further plans do you have in your professional and personal development?— I have long dreamed of creating my own animated cartoon or a series in sign language.

At the moment, there are many children who have hearing impairments, and I dream of creating an animated world of gestures to please such children. I also plan to create courses on concept art.

(Editorial comment: Concept art is a direction in art, designed to visually convey the idea of the work).


OUR pARTneRS

For the fifth year in a row, Russia holds cyborg competitions among people with integrated modern technical means of rehabilitation. The project originates from the analogue of the Paralympic Games — competitions of people with disabilities Cybathlon, which are held once every four years. Contestants perform various assignments overcoming the so-called obstacle course using prosthetic arms, legs, electric wheels, exoskeletons, neural fittings and bikes with muscle electro-stimulators.

socIAlIzAtIoN of people WIth DIsAbIlItIes thRough cybAthletIcs

“thIs Is A holIDAy foR pARtIcIpANts”

Alexander Lyubinsky, General Director of the Cybathletics Union, gave an interview to the correspondent of the Abilympics Russia magazine and talked about the specifics of the movement, the success story of the young cybathlete and plans for the future.

“cybathletics — is an unmistakable overcoming of difficulties in solving everyday tasks”

This is not a sport with the motto “higher, faster, stronger”, but the integration of technical means of rehabilitation (TMR) and the person with disabilities who manages them. For competitions, various exercises have been invented that repeat the actions that people encounter in everyday life, such as opening a door, slicing bread, hanging out the laundry, changing a bulb and overcoming various obstacles. On the tracks, the functionality and reliability of technical means of rehabilitation, which are created through imitators of domestic situations, are of great importance. It can be a prosthesis, an electric wheelchair or anything else that helps a person make up for their lost capabilities. At the same time, it is also important how a person manages these TMR. Whoever makes the minimum number of errors and falls within the allotted time limit wins. It turns out that this is an unmistakable overcoming of difficulties in solving everyday problems.

“socialization of people with disabilities”

Originating in 2016 in Switzerland, Cybathlon international competitions are primarily aimed at the development of the global TMR industry. At the same time, cybathletics in Russia sets another equally important task — the socialization of people with disabilities. If we talk about the technical aspect, then the track of cybathletes is a proving ground.

This is a kind of benchmark to find which product works better and which one works worse. Everyone can see it for themselves. Therefore, we create technical competition, but also we create all the conditions for the socialization of people with disabilities: they get knowledge of how to use these rehabilitation tools, they exchange experience, receive information about what can be found on the market, what equipment can be chosen, how to justify their receipt at the SIF (Social Insurance Fund — editorial reference). Moreover, we help people find themselves professionally: a person, in order to fit into a profession, must first master certain techniques at the domestic level and with natural movements, which in some cases are duplicated at work. Other people, including employers, see that a person with the help of TMR can easily and simply perform different types of work.

“We fan the sparks that we hope will make a good fire”

In order to take part in cybathletics, those wishing to participate do not have to come to Moscow. Since 2018, with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund, the

competition has been held in different cities of Russia with 6–7 events a year. As a rule, from 20 to 50 people can be gathered for one-day competitions. As for the rest, we organize a live webcasting from the event. We try to fan the sparks that we hope will make a good fire. At the moment, competitions are held in four disciplines: prosthetic arms, shin prostheses, hip prostheses and electric strollers. In the near future, we plan to introduce a new discipline — blind aid for completely blind people. In general, we would like to make this direction more massive so that cybathletics simulators could stand in each courtyard or park so that not only a healthy person can pull up on the bars, but also a person with disabilities could come to the site and hone certain movements. A person with a disability

needs continuous rehabilitation and constant movement. If one day he decides to stop it, choosing to stay on a soft sofa, then it will be a dead-end road and a return to helplessness.

“in general, it feels like a holiday for participants”

Cybathletics is a new project for our country and we feel like pioneers. Many people, deciding on participation, are afraid: if suddenly they laugh at me or I could not succeed. But there are those who certainly want to try. First, they test themselves and their capabilities in a professionally set-up complex. Second, they receive an immersive experience of communication and a portion of new knowledge. We try to make the event interesting and useful: in addition to competitions, we hold a round table, mini-exhibitions of TMR and adaptive physical education lessons. We also invite creative teams to perform in breaks. In general, it feels like a holiday for participants. We see high spirits throughout the day in their faces and smiles… And, of course, memorable gifts, awards and medals —

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everything is real. Everyone feels grateful when he or she manages to overcome the obstacles, when he or she does it better than others, they become prize-winners, and other people see it: when people take a photo of you, write about you on the internet and the media, when you are shown on TV.

The story of Dima Klevkov: “a schoolboy with a simple prosthetic hip beat all potential champions and was awarded with a gold medal”

In 2018, in alongside with the National Abilympics at VDNKh (the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy), we held the Moscow championship in cybathletics. 14-year-old Dima Klevkov, who performed for the Southern

Administrative District, came to this event with other participants for the first time. The biggest surprise of all came: a schoolboy with a simple "non-sophisticated" hip prosthesis beat all potential champions and was awarded with a gold medal. Later we learned that Dima and his father took the study of the track and the development of the technique for its passage very seriously: from what foot to go to the obstacle, how to place the center of gravity, where to accelerate and where to do the opposite — to do it slowly and carefully. Then everyone was surprised — how come we get children with experience of participation in previous competitions, many of them are Paralympics prize-winners. These children have strong physical training, and they were beat by a teenager; as Suvorov taught — to beat not by a number

but rather by a skill. Participation and victory in the championship of Moscow helped Dmitry to get from the state one of the most modern, multifunctional and computerized prostheses, which is worth more than two million rubles for free to beat new records and achieve new victories in his life.

It should be noted that assistance in the implementation of projects for people with certain health issues is widely carried out at the state level. In particular, in 2019, at a meeting with socially oriented non-profit organizations, Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the proposal of the Cybathletics Union to hold the Cybathlon-2024 World Cup in Russia. The national team in cybathletics was also supported to participate in the World Cup this year.

RefeRence:

The idea of holding regular competitions of cybathletes in our country was brought forward by companies that were a part of the Russian team in the international competition of people with disabilities Cybathlon in Zurich in October 2016. The “Motorika” company is the resident of Skolkovo, which it develops prostheses of the upper limbs. This company was the initiator of the creation the Russian Union of Developers and Suppliers of TMR. Details of the tasks and implemented projects of the “Cybathletics” Union can be found on the website: http://кибатлетика.рф.


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fouNDeR of the pRoJect “lANguAges WIthout boRDeRs”: “WhAt We Do ofteN hAs NothINg to Do WIth the cuRReNt coNDItIoNs, but RAtheR coNtRARy to It”Education without limited opportunities for work, study and travel has long been a reality. The “Languages Without Borders” is successfully developing in St. Petersburg, helping people to learn English, get a job and discover unlimited development prospects around the world. Sergey Krechetov, general director of the project, together with his colleagues — teacher natalya Shanyavskaya and guide-interpreter valentina Sukhanova, shared their experience and plans in an interview with the correspondent of the Abilympics Russia magazine.

— How did the idea of creating the project “languages Without borders” come to life?— It all happened incidentally. We worked in the field of NPO, but for a long time we agreed on changes to the Charter, the naggings of the Ministry of Justice (for example, to change the name) — all this took a lot of time and we just resolved the issue in a day — in early 2017, we created Ltd “Languages Without Borders”. We received all the necessary licenses and continued what we were doing before — teaching people with disabilities English. But only on a different scale. If earlier we taught a small group of people with disabilities, later there were over a hundred. And everything began with one experimental group in 2012. And it was probably where there were students with a variety of different disabilities. We quickly realized that inclusion in language learning is not a format that can gain traction, so we abandoned the formula “we must learn together”. No, we must not — because it simply makes no sense. Teaching a deaf or a blind person and a person with musculoskeletal disorders in one class is unproductive and, I believe, contradicts with what people with disabilities really need. That’s all moonshine.

— How many years has the project existed? What are the main stages of development?— The main thing has always been teaching English and preparing for international exams. We trained 25 people with disabilities who successfully passed the Cambridge exams reaching the results of B1 and B2. This is really cool. These exams are taken by visually impaired people, people with hearing impairment and people with musculoskeletal issues. In 2017, the project

started to professionally retrain deaf and hearing-impaired guides for working in Russian sign language in museums and city spaces in St. Petersburg. In December, we have a second year graduation. Our graduates are accredited and organize excursions in almost all iconic museums of the city, including the Peter and Paul Fortress, Faberge Museum, Hermitage Museum, Russian Museum, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Museum of the History of Religion, Central Naval Museum, Gatchina Palace and State Museum and etc. We have plans to expand with professional retraining in other regions of Russia. But here you need some serious support, the project is not all that simple.

While preparing guides, we came up with a new project. This project makes us unique here in Russia. This is the creation of video guides in Russian sign language. I don’t mean to say no one does that. It’s not true. But we have guys who film and shoot themselves in video guides — this is a team that has been formed for more than

a year, it consists primarily of graduates of those very programs for training of deaf guides. Therefore, it makes us unique. We create a kind of intellectual assembly line, where people with hearing impairment get a completely new profession and they are not abandoned, but rather get the opportunity to get a decent, creative work. The best graduates work at Ltd “Languages Without Borders”.

— What is the difficulty in developing the project?— There are lots of difficulties. Often what we do has nothing to do with the current conditions, but rather contrary to it. Ltd “Languages Without Borders” is a social enterprise, social entrepreneurship (call it whatever you like). Accordingly, State participation is required. It used to be minimal before. The only institution supported us was the Committee on Labor and Employment of the Population of St. Petersburg. We were helped by subsidies for training disabled people. For example, we even bought equipment for filming video

guides this year. But that’s it. This year we have not received a penny of

support since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were not included in any state support programs. And the fact that we retained the team is

more of a miracle than something reasonable. Business came to our

aid and helped both save the stuff and have the planned projects implemented. I have no idea what else add to it. It’s obvious.

Sergey Krechetov

24

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— Are there success stories of people who were helped by the project?— Yes, there are plenty of stories like that. There are guys who graduated from language courses and received international certificates and were able to get the right to study at prestigious universities and not only in Russia. Someone received some bonuses at work, someone generally decided to change his field of activity, went to study in order to get a higher education. This applies to both those who studied in language programs and those who studied in guide courses. New professions appear — we do not even have a federal professional standard for the deaf, who would like to work in the field of tourism and drive excursions in Russian sign language or even on international sign language (we also teach them).

— What is the fundamental difference between the english language and international sign learning programs for communication of deaf people and the usual language learning programs for healthy people?— The program for mastering English and international sign language for

communicating with deaf people is completely different from the usual programs for learning the language for healthy people. They need to see each other and they need to see how other students perform exercises. Visual support, practice and visibility of each other are mandatory attributes of our lessons on the ZOOM platform. It is also very important for deaf people to see and read emotions on the face of the teacher. Having a hearing impairment or its complete absence, they perceive everything more sensitively, more subtly through vision. As the voice of the teacher is important for the blind, the same way emotions on the teacher’s face are important for the deaf.

This work is especially important for those of our guides who would like to try themselves in working with foreign tourists. We’ve already taken first steps. We met a year ago with a number of leading museums in Italy and even took an internship in Vatican museums in January 2020. You need new knowledge everywhere — in our case, you need to know international signs.

— What are your plans for the future in working with people with disabilities?

— We will continue to develop English distance learning. We will continue to adapt such forms of education for people with disabilities in other regions of Russia. We will develop such projects with the involvement of partners who invited us to test the Pitman English language learning platform.

But we also want to develop and train deaf guides for other regions of Russia and shoot video guides for small museums in the regions. We want to help maintain interest in the rich cultural heritage that is often not visible from the countries’ capitals.

We will continue to engage in career guidance for children, develop a direction in tactile tourism for blind people and prepare blind and visually impaired guides with knowledge of English. There are many opportunities — all we need is people to work on it.

— please, tell us more about the unique experience of preparing blind and visually impaired students for international exams in english: who conducts the classes? Where do specialists study? How does the

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educational process go? How to become a student?— For several years, “Languages Without Borders” has been implementing a project to prepare people with disabilities, including the blind and visually impaired, for international Cambridge exams. Teachers have experience of working with people with disabilities and they are qualified English teachers. The specifics of the classes consist basically in adapting the material that is provided for the blind and visually impaired (as well as for people with other disabilities) in convenient for them format, taking into account, for example, a larger font. In the classroom, we pay particular attention to text writing, capital letters, italics, punctuation features, etc., since these important points are easily lost when using on-screen access

programs that allow you to read text on a computer screen or other similar device. In the classes, we also train the exam format taking into account the specific requirements of the exam, for example, the description of the photo is replaced by a description of the situation. Therefore, an individual approach to each person involved is being implemented.

The rules allow students to take the exam not only using Braille script, but also with the help of an assistant who, if necessary, reads and/or writes text. We search for assistants ourselves. The assistant is a person familiar with the format of the exam and proficient in English to the necessary extent. This format was in demand by our students. Therefore, in classes, we separately train communication skills with an assistant in English.

The exam takes place in several stages: the oral part is passed on a separate day. The issue of ensuring that the venue of the exam is socially accessible is decided separately. The same applies to the place of study.

Preparation for the exam is a time-consuming long-term process that requires students to perform some computer skills and timely homework.

Students who pass the international examination at particularly high levels are more competitive in the labour market and acquire communication skills in English that can help them to realize a particular specialty, take part in international conferences, internships, read professional texts in English, etc. Moreover, the exam itself is oriented towards the so-called general English, and not English for representatives of a particular profession.

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