My first introduction to the U.S. culture happened when I was 16. I was an exchange student and I went to the local high school in Minnesota. I lived with a host family and experienced the most memorable and fulfilling year in my life. Back then it felt like a revelation that people with disabilities can be treated with dignity, that there are ramps, elevators and a general sense of accessibility. I could only compare what I saw with the place I am from – Omsk, Russia. The issues of people with disabilities haven’t been and unfortunately still aren’t, the top priority for Russian authorities, at least, in the sense of civil rights. I hadn’t realized at that point that there are still so many problems and there is still a lot to be done in the US too.

Who could have thought back then that I would be interning with the Center for Disability Rights, one of the organizations that helped make this progress with disability rights possible. When I got back to Russia I was thrilled about international relations and foreign languages. It was a driving force in my decision to major in Regional studies at Omsk State University. International affairs are still one of my passions, a great way to learn about the globalized world we live in. As an alumna of the exchange program, I was involved in all kinds of community service activities that focused on promoting healthy lifestyles among children in orphanages, organizing fun events for them. Our alumni club also raised the issues of people with disabilities in Russia by making presentations and telling people about the problems people with disabilities face on a daily basis. When I graduated, I knew for sure that I wanted to continue my education and focus on disability studies in order to be able to change the traditional perception people in Russia have about disability based on a medical model and shift it toward more interdisciplinary and complex approaches. Thanks to the Fulbright scholarship I’ve been given an opportunity to do my Master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Maine.

What I like about this university is that it has a great Disability Studies program which, in combination with Public Administration, will enable me to focus on disability related policies. Ultimately, I want to be able to push forward a disability rights agenda in Russia either within the non-profit sector or within a government agency. Either way, the need for change is great; the old medical and benefits-based approach to disability in Russia leaves no room for discovering the full potential of the Russian society in all its diversity.

The internship at CDR helps me shape my plans about the future. During the past three weeks of my internship at CDR, I got to know amazing people that work here, I started learning about national and local issues of concern such as integrated, affordable and accessible housing, enforcement of the ADA, etc. It’s inspiring to be able to work in the environment of passionate, experienced and knowledgeable people from whom I can learn so much, and hopefully contribute to this great team.