CenterPoint: The Newsletter of The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies

Center Hosts Visiting Fulbright Scholar

East met West and stayed for a year! In September 2004, the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies was honored to host Svetlana Kydykbaeva as a Visiting Fulbright Scholar for the academic year. Her plan was to study inclusive education practices, and the Center was the perfect place for her to do it.

Dr. Kydykbaeva, who was accompanied by her husband, Marat Zaripov, is a professor of special education at Kyrgyz State Pedagogical University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During her year in Maine, she visited a number of schools to observe, first-hand, inclusive education practices. Her travels with the Center's staff led her to schools in Bar Harbor, Fairfield, Vassalboro, Milo, Lincoln, Old Town, Hampden, Bangor, and Waterville. She was also able to participate in numerous conferences, meetings, and presentations related to education, special education, and inclusive education.

Upon return to Kyrgyzstan, she will work to implement changes in pedagogy at her University, bringing awareness for the need to educate all children. She understands that she will first need to change attitudes, allowing for the change in teaching practices among the education faculty. Then she can begin to change public policy in her country, assuring finally that all children will be fully included in the school setting.

Of her experience in Maine, Dr. Kydykbaeva commented, “I have seen the results of inclusive education in Maine. I am eager to analyze all this information and develop strategies for changing teacher education and public policy, to provide equal access to education for all Kyrgyz children. I look forward to continuing the collaboration with the staff at [the Center] and the people of Maine.”

Kyrgyzstan has undergone many changes since the end of the Soviet era. The Soviet Union provided considerable resources and infrastructure; since independence in 1991, the people of Kyrgyzstan have had to redevelop all of their public systems, including education. It has not been without difficulty, as was witnessed this winter with the unrest in the capital, Bishkek, Svetlana's home city and place of work.

While in the U.S., Dr. Kydykbaeva visited Washington, D.C. for a Fulbright Fellows Conference. She also visited Florida and New York City. And, of course, she traveled extensively in Maine, experiencing all that our state has to offer.

The Fulbright Fellowship provided the perfect opportunity for Dr. Kydykbaeva to study inclusive education here in the West and to influence teaching and public policy back home in the East. The Center was enriched by Svetlana and Marat. We will miss them and wish them well and every success in Kyrgyzstan.

— Alan Parks

CENTERPOINT: The Newsletter of The University of Maine
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies,
Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Education, Research, and Service


In This Issue Spring 2005 • Volume 1 • Issue 1 Early Learning Opportunities Support Quality and Access Director’s Corner Daring to Dream Awards New EC Resource In memoriam: Marcia Lovell LEARNS: Work Keeps Team Hopping IDS Curriculum Changes Dissemination Team Leads Web Accessibility Collaboration Brings Speaker to Maine Center Sponsors Exhibit Venue for VSA arts Center Hosts Visiting Fulbright Scholar UMaine Students Lead EC Conference 10 Students Graduate TOP Program Healthy & Ready to Work: Engaging Youth in Their Future Standards for All Model: Personalizing Elementary Education Selected Presentations & Publications CenterPoint Home	Center Home \| UMaine Home \| CenterPoint Home Svetlana Kydykbaeva (left), visiting Fulbright Scholar from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, discusses inclusive education practices with Center Research Associate Maria Timberlake at Conners-Emerson School in Bar Harbor, Maine. (Alan Parks, photo) Center Hosts Visiting Fulbright Scholar East met West and stayed for a year! In September 2004, the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies was honored to host Svetlana Kydykbaeva as a Visiting Fulbright Scholar for the academic year. Her plan was to study inclusive education practices, and the Center was the perfect place for her to do it. Dr. Kydykbaeva, who was accompanied by her husband, Marat Zaripov, is a professor of special education at Kyrgyz State Pedagogical University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During her year in Maine, she visited a number of schools to observe, first-hand, inclusive education practices. Her travels with the Center's staff led her to schools in Bar Harbor, Fairfield, Vassalboro, Milo, Lincoln, Old Town, Hampden, Bangor, and Waterville. She was also able to participate in numerous conferences, meetings, and presentations related to education, special education, and inclusive education. Upon return to Kyrgyzstan, she will work to implement changes in pedagogy at her University, bringing awareness for the need to educate all children. She understands that she will first need to change attitudes, allowing for the change in teaching practices among the education faculty. Then she can begin to change public policy in her country, assuring finally that all children will be fully included in the school setting. Of her experience in Maine, Dr. Kydykbaeva commented, “I have seen the results of inclusive education in Maine. I am eager to analyze all this information and develop strategies for changing teacher education and public policy, to provide equal access to education for all Kyrgyz children. I look forward to continuing the collaboration with the staff at [the Center] and the people of Maine.” Kyrgyzstan has undergone many changes since the end of the Soviet era. The Soviet Union provided considerable resources and infrastructure; since independence in 1991, the people of Kyrgyzstan have had to redevelop all of their public systems, including education. It has not been without difficulty, as was witnessed this winter with the unrest in the capital, Bishkek, Svetlana's home city and place of work. While in the U.S., Dr. Kydykbaeva visited Washington, D.C. for a Fulbright Fellows Conference. She also visited Florida and New York City. And, of course, she traveled extensively in Maine, experiencing all that our state has to offer. The Fulbright Fellowship provided the perfect opportunity for Dr. Kydykbaeva to study inclusive education here in the West and to influence teaching and public policy back home in the East. The Center was enriched by Svetlana and Marat. We will miss them and wish them well and every success in Kyrgyzstan. — Alan Parks

CENTERPOINT: The Newsletter of The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service

In This Issue

Center Hosts Visiting Fulbright Scholar