The Institute on Community Integration’s Renáta Tichá led a U.S. delegation of special educators, social workers, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and others to Havana, Cuba in November – in the midst of Hurricane Rafael – on a mission to understand more about the country’s special education system. Organized by the U.S. State Department’s Citizen Ambassador Program , the 13-member delegation met with officials from the Ministry of Education, University of Havana and non-governmental organizations, among other activities.
Tichá, who is co-director of ICI’s Global Resource Center on Inclusive Education, was invited to lead the delegation as part of her role as president of the International Association of Special Education.
The Institute’s global disability inclusion work has increased substantially in recent years, with projects in several countries, including Namibia, Zambia, the Czech Republic, Bhutan, Armenia, Malaysia, and Ukraine. Its dropout prevention/student engagement intervention model, Check & Connect, has been delivered in seven non-U.S. locations.
“Expanding our research and collaboration globally enriches our understanding, expands our knowledge base, and improves our work,” ICI director Amy Hewitt said.
