Natalia Andriichuk
(Ph.D., Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University, Department of International Relations at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine) reads lectures in inclusive education for graduate students and participates in international seminars, conferences and grant projects devoted to inclusion and teaching children with SEN. Her special scientific interests are international development tendencies of inclusion, namely in Nordic countries, and the implementation of positive practices into the Ukrainian system of education. She is an author of more than 30 scientific publications.
Tetyana Blyznyuk
(Ph.D.) is Associate Professor at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She is an author of more than 90 publications in Ukrainian and international research journals on teaching methods. She has published a monograph and contributed to a number of edited volumes. She is a certified coach for digital competence enhancement of scientific-pedagogical staff participating in international and all-Ukrainian conferences, forums and workshops. She is a literary editor of the Journal of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University: series of Social and Human Sciences.
Olena Budnyk
(Ph.D.) is Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences (Ed.D.), Professor, Director of the Center for Innovative Educational Technologies “PNU EcoSystem” at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She leads the university academic group of the international project ERASMUS+ “MoPED – Modernization of higher pedagogical education with the use of innovative teaching tools”, No 586098-EPP-1-2017-1-UA-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP (2017–2022). Editor-in-chief of professional journals in Pedagogy: Journal of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University and Educational Horizons. Member of the editorial board of journals: Bulletin of the University of Cherkasy (Pedagogical Sciences, Ukraine), Chowanna, Scientific Bulletin of Chełm, Viae Educationis: Studies of Education and Didactics and Scientia (Polish Republic), Education in the 21st Century (Yerevan, Armenia), Revista Amazonia Investiga (Colombia). She authored more than 300 scientific publications including 2 monographs, 10 educational and methodical manuals, articles in international scientific editions, including those indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases. The most important books are: Professional Training of Future
Inna Chervinska
(Ph.D.) is Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She leads the Mountain school of Ukrainian Karpaty creative educational and scientific laboratory and researches accessibility of schools in the rural areas. She participated in the MASHAV international internship and the Techno-pedagogy and development of special education system including education for excellence international course. She is the author of more than 210 scientific publications.
Olga Derkachova
(Ph.D.) is Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She is an author of more than 200 scientific publications as well as acclaimed fiction books: The Snowdrop Syndrome (Typovit, 2006), According to the London Time (Typovit, 2008), The Store of Happiness (Discursus, 2013), The Artificial Flowers Wholesale (Discursus, 2014), The Apple Jam (Discursus, 2014), When You Wake up (Discursus, 2015), The Knitted Butterflies (Discursus, 2015), Tereza’s House (Discursus, 2018), The British Queen’s Сoat (Discursus, 2021), The Heart (Discursus, 2023). She is a member of National Writers Organization, Shevchenko‘s Scientific Community, National Journalist‘s Organization. She reads the Literature and Inclusion course for university students.
Iryna Dubkovetska
is Assistant Professor at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She is a health professional, who takes interest in the inclusion of persons with disabilities. She published several articles and participated in conferences.
Stephanie Fitzgerald
(Master of Arts in Education, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, USA) is a professional educator with over 36 years of classroom experience as a work-based learning coordinator and teacher of students with physical disabilities. She has extensive training and experience in many aspects of working with
Kateryna Fomin
(Ph.D.) is Associate Professor at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She is an author of more than 20 scientific works: tutorials, guidelines and publications in scientific domestic and foreign professional publications and media. Participant of international and all-Ukrainian scientific conferences, forums and webinars. The area of research interests is related to innovative approaches to teaching/learning, especially the implementation of best European practices in the learning process. She is interested in Humanities, Pedagogy, Psychology, cultural studies and teaching students with SEN.
Clayton E. Keller
(Ph.D.) is Consultant at the VIA Education Strategists, USA. Dr. Clayton Keller’s 45-year career in special education included serving as the Coordinator of the Master of Education in Special Education program at Qatar University from 2010–2016. He is Associate Professor in Special Education at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He also spent a dozen years supporting the Minnesota Department of Education to increase special educator preparation capacity and expand the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in that state. His international experiences also include: developing special education policies and plans for Oman and Botswana, reviewing educator preparation programs in Palestine and Botswana, helping to organize international conferences in Peru and Oman, and delivering professional development workshops in Turkey and Ukraine. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Council for Exceptional Children and served in the presidential cycle for its Division of International Special Education and Services.
Karolina Kołodziejczak
is a doctoral student in Social Science, Institute of Pedagogy of the Jagiellonian University, Poland. She is a graduate of social care pedagogy and school pedagogy with pedagogical therapy and remedial education from the Jagiellonian University (Poland). Areas of academic interest: inclusive education, school
Mykhaylo Kotyk
(Ph.D., Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine) is a software engineer of the Center for Innovative Educational Technologies “PNU EcoSystem”. His interests are assistive technologies, 3D modeling, robotics, programming, innovative educational technologies and STEAM education. He participated in domestic workshops and international conferences in inclusive education.
Don Lavin
is Master of Arts in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Founder and Principal of Strengths@Work, LLC, USA. As a strategic leader, manager, author, and consultant, he has 51 years of professional experience advancing competitive integrated employment in support of job seekers with significant disabilities and other barriers to employment. After serving 37 years as Vice President at Rise, Incorporated, a national leader in the provision of employment and workforce development programs, he worked as Executive Director at The Arc Minnesota, a statewide disability advocacy organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. As the Founder and Principal of Strengths@Work, LLC, Lavin consults nationally and internationally on organizational transformation, employment first strategies, customized and supported employment, and building capacities of business leaders to hire, train, supervise, and support workers with complex employment support needs.
Zoryana Leniv
(Ph.D.) is Associate Professor at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She is an organizer of three All-Ukrainian symposiums on Inclusive Education. She was in charge of the establishment of the Faculty of Pedagogical Education on the basis of Pedagogical College; conducted annual conferences on Inclusion; introduced training of teachers and teacher assistants for the inclusive education system; developed system for training teachers in the university education environment; organized the International Congress Education of Children with Special Needs: From Institutionalization to Inclusion.
Nataliia Matveieva
(Ph.D.) is Associate Professor at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She is an author of 16 textbooks, more than
Kelly Merchant
(Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Public Relations, University of Minnesota) is Employment Consultant for people with varied disabilities, Kaposia, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Over the last 18 years, she has worked with and advocated for people with varied disabilities. As an Employment Consultant with Kaposia, she has seen first-hand how a well-matched job can transform anyone, empowering them with purpose, a sense of community and belonging. In her work, supporting a caseload of people who are successfully working in community jobs, she has learned that support comes in many forms: via the Discovery process, skill development, resume writing, informational interviews, and job interviewing. To find the best employment fit for the individuals she supports, Kelly collaborates and brainstorms with families, current and future employers, and the individual. She also coaches teams on effective communications, scheduling, transportation and goal setting. As an experienced Employment Consultant, she shares her knowledge and stories through the Kaposia Newsletter, and is the co-author of two chapters in the University of Minnesota’s Handbook on Community Living and Employment. Her work can also be seen in national and international publications, most recently in Impact Magazine’s feature issue on Self-Determination and Supported Decision-Making for People with Intellectual, Developmental and Other Disabilities.
Mykhailo Palahniuk
(Ph.D.) is Associate Professor at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, Ukraine. He is an author of more than 20 scientific publications. He teaches courses in Philosophy, Sociology, Philosophical problems of scientific knowledge. He is greatly interested in: development of Ukrainian social and philosophical ideas XIX–XX centuries, factors causing professional burnout in teachers, gender and disability issues.
Katarzyna Smoter
(Ph.D. in social science in the field of pedagogy) is Research Assistant at the Institute of Pedagogy, Jagiellonian University, Poland. She graduated in Pedagogy (2008) and Sociology (2011) at the Jagiellonian University. She is an author of more than 20 scientific publications. Her areas of academic interest are multicultural education, didactics, antidiscrimination education, pedeutology, higher education.
(Ph.D. in Disability Studies, University of Leeds) is an independent researcher, UK. Her research interests include inclusive education, disability arts and representations, disability and gender, and disability hate crime. She has published articles in international journals and a book Disabled International Students in British Higher Education: Experiences and Expectations (Sense Publishers [now Brill], 2013), and contributed to several collected edition books. In 2018, she led a project for the Alliance for Inclusive Education on the effectiveness of schools’ Accessibility Plans funded by the Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning grants programme. To date, she continues with researching, publishing, lecturing and delivering workshops specifically on inclusive education topics.
Lidia Sydoriv
(Master of Arts in Special Education, Kalush Special School, Ukraine) is a qualified deaf and hard of hearing teacher, sign language specialist, and special education psychologist. She works as a special educator in school and trains pre-service elementary school teachers in Ivano-Frankivsk professional college. She is a certified trainer of the Without Borders: sustaining and supporting inclusive education learning community program – the project funded under the Ukraine USG Exchange Alumni Small Grants Program. She is an author of the training module Forming Communication Skills for Hard of Hearing Students: dactyl signing for first timers. She participated and facilitated seminars and workshops on inclusion education. She co-authored the Stairs to Inclusion Manual and Inclusive Education Teacher Training Curriculum, which she uses in training college students.
Sergiy Sydoriv
is a doctoral student at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. Director of Without Borders: supporting and sustaining inclusive education community project and a teacher at Ivano-Frankivsk College and Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. Since 2007, he has been a head of the national network Young Men against Violence. He participated in USAID and AED funded programs aimed at prevention of trafficking in people, represented youth from Ukraine at various events, World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in Rio de Janeiro (2008) among them. He facilitated ENYA seminars on Overcoming Violence Against Young Women in Tbilisi, Georgia. In 2017, he participated in the Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary Fellowship Program on Inclusive Education. Organized numerous seminars, workshops and conferences on
Olha Telna
(Ph.D.) is Associate Professor at Kharkiv Academy for Humanitarian and Pedagogical Studies, Ukraine. She taught at Kharkiv Regional Boarding School for Visually Impaired Children (2000–2012), now she is an associate professor in special education. She is a member of many professional organizations: the National Writers’ Union of Ukraine, the National Association of Typhlopedagogues of Ukraine, and the National Association of Correctional Pedagogues of Ukraine among them. In 2017 she received an educational scholarship from the U.S. Department of States – ADA Anniversary Fellowship Program on Inclusive Education (2017). She is a disability self-advocate.
Oksana Tytun
(Ph.D.) is Associate Professor at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She is a teacher and author of more than 30 scientific publications abroad and in Ukraine. Her research interests include mastering ways and methods of foreign languages teaching, teaching elementary school teachers in an inclusive environment.
Hryhorii Vasianovych
is Honorary Member of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences (Ph.D., Ed.D.), Professor at the Lviv State University of Life Safety, Ukraine. He is an author of more than 400 scientific publications among them 2 monographs and 30 educational and methodical manuals. He is an author of articles in foreign scientific journals, including those indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases. He is interested in philosophical and historical foundations of inclusion and reflection of inclusive ideas and practices in literature texts.
Anna Ziętek
(Ph.D. in Pedagogy) is Assistant Professor at the Pedagogical and Technical College, Konin, Poland. She is a long-term teacher at Centrum Kształcenia i Doskonalenia Zawodowego (Vocational Education and Development Centre) in Nowa Sól. Her research interests are related to inclusion of people with disabilities in professional work and their further vocational development. Research conducted deals with education of young people with SEN, career