On 9 February, an exhibition of a Moscow museum “V tishine” (in silence) opened in Voronezh. The first audience of the inclusive project were staff and students of Voronezh universities. On the opening day, representatives of VSU administration and the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology could emerge into the world of people with hearing disabilities.
The head of the “V tishine” museum, Marina Aizina, in her speech for the audience pointed out that this project is aimed primarily at young people, and there are also exhibitions in Ulianovsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, and Chelyabinsk. The guests of the museum can attend master classes and visit interactive exhibitions about the life of people with hearing disabilities.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Olga Sergeeva, Head of the Department of Social Security of the Voronezh Region, Kristina Kuleshova, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science, and Youth Policy of the Voronezh Regional Duma, and Margarita Maslennikova, head of the regional branch of the committee of the families of the military and the head of ANO “Council of Women”. A sign language presentation was given by Vera Semenova, chairman of the Voronezh regional office of the all-Russian public organization “All-Russian society of the deaf”.
Among the representatives of VSU there were Ekaterina Tsebekova, head of the youth department, and Olga Mazkina, deputy dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Physiology for general and social issues. The participants of the inclusive exhibition were also 3rd year students of the programme “Psychological and Pedagogic Assistance to Students with Special Educational Needs”.
“The exhibition gave us an opportunity to gain experience and feel the atmosphere of an artistic space. We learned about a different lifestyle and felt the silence of the world of people with hearing disabilities. We found an answer to the question: can we understand each other without voice? The exhibition helped us to realize how precious the ability to hear actually is. We learned about the life of people with hearing disabilities, learned about the sign language, and even tried to communicate using it”, said Olga Mazkina.
On 11 February, the exhibition was visited by 1st and 2nd year students of the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology, and their supervisor, senior lecturer at the Department of Pedagogy and Pedagogical Psychology Olga Ivanova. The students are studying on the Psychological and Pedagogical Education programme. Yulia Senyushkina, a member of the deaf society and a volunteer of the project in Voronezh, gave them a tour of the exhibition.
Olga Mazkina, deputy dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Physiology for general and social issues, pointed out that according to the law, students with disabilities are entitled to a special education environment. Thus, the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology provides inclusive education for students with visual and hearing disabilities.
Two years ago, VSU launched a course “Theory and methodology of inclusive interaction”, which is compulsory for all students. The course aims to develop knowledge and skills which can help VSU students to interact with people with disabilities. It also helps students to feel comfortable with inclusive interaction and find professional solutions based on psychological and pedagogical analysis.
