Six young professionals from Russia asked dozens of questions Oct. 6 while touring Creative Community Living facilities and meeting clients and staff. With few services available for people with developmental disabilities in Russia, they were eager to learn everything.
The group, accompanied by interpreter Anna Tsadka of St. Louis and Rotarian Roger Lungren, first gathered at Meyer Hall for an introduction to the services provided by CCL. Tour stops followed at four CCL duplexes in Winfield and Arkansas City. Staff members spoke briefly about supporting medically fragile individuals, responsibilities of direct care staff, clients’ volunteer projects, serving elderly individuals and other topics. At each stop, the visitors presented a small gift from Russia to the residents and staff.
Nataliya Marsheva, a university English teacher in St. Petersburg in far western Russia, spoke fluent English, but the others had more limited English knowledge and depended on the interpreter to translate the conversation. Five guests were from Omsk, a city of a million people in southwest Siberia.
Lunch at Sirloin Stockade in Arkansas City with four CCL clients, one board member and half a dozen staff members provided opportunities for everyone to get better acquainted. The day’s activities concluded at Meyer Hall where the visitors watched clients participating in activities before meeting once again with administrative and support staff. Funding, eligibility, quality assurance, public relations, volunteer assistance and fund raising were among their many areas of interest.
Several of the Russians expressed their appreciation that people with disabilities are treated so well in the United States, and a desire to see that happen in their own country.
“It was a honor to host the delegates from the Open World Program at CCL,” said executive director Linda Misasi. “They were so interested in how every facet of the organization operates. Their enthusiasm and desire to improve the condition for all individuals with disabilities in their country was so moving. I wanted to go with them to help.”
The Russians were in Winfield for a week as guests of the local Rotarians.