I am someone who thinks about disability and Russia for many hours of the day, most days. So, naturally, I paid attention when the social media world was suddenly flush with posts and tweets about the strange story that a US government report had speculated that Putin has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This was a … Continue reading What are we doing when we say Putin has Asperger’s Syndrome?
Russia
Citizen Diplomacy in times of Discomfort
As I prepared for my recent trip to Russia, many Americans were concerned with the timing of my trip, given recent events in Ukraine and the Crimea, with resulting diplomatic upheaval between the US/NATO/the EU and the Russian Federation. Others, less familiar with my work, commented (jokingly, I think) that it's a good time to … Continue reading Citizen Diplomacy in times of Discomfort
Play premiere in Petrozavodsk!
This month my friends and collaborators in Petrozavodsk present the city's first-ever social theater project. The play, which premieres on November 27th and 28th, is a collaborative work, coauthored by children with disabilities in the city and knit together by theater professionals Oleg Lipovetsky and Lidiya Pobedinskaya. The brain child of an open collaborative of … Continue reading Play premiere in Petrozavodsk!
Installation Launch: Cripping Cyberspace
I am absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of my new ethnographic installation in its digital incarnation this Friday, September 27th!! The project, Do You Like This Installation?, is one of four commissioned works featured in a contemporary online art exhibition titled Cripping Cyberspace. The broader exhibition is curated by uber-talented Amanda Cachia, presented by … Continue reading Installation Launch: Cripping Cyberspace
New posts up on “Kto Kuda Kak?” Accessibility Blog
You might remember a meme that got passed around the internet last fall, showing pictures of utterly inaccessible ramps from around Russia. Russian accessibility activists like to call these the "galochki" or check-mark ramps: Is there a ramp? Yes! Does it work? Who cares?! It's there, put a check mark in the accessibility box! Last … Continue reading New posts up on “Kto Kuda Kak?” Accessibility Blog
What happens at the museum…
A recent visit to the State Biological Museum in Moscow was too quirky to keep to myself. I had to share the story. You can read it in full on the Russia! Magazine website. WARNING: not for those with weak stomachs!!! Extensive discussion of blood transfusions, strange experiments performed on dogs, and poisonous mushrooms. Not … Continue reading What happens at the museum…
In the News in Petrozavodsk
The very charming Zhenya Volnikova whiled all sorts of admissions out of me over coffee at my favorite cafe. Check out the article, in Russian, here.
Imag(in)ing Accessibility in Karelia, Russia
I'm excited to announce the launch of a collaborative project with several non-profit organizations in Karelia, Russia! It is a blog collecting images of accessibility in the North Western republic of the Russian Federation where I am living while conducting my dissertation fieldwork. You may remember a series of viral images that circulated on Facebook … Continue reading Imag(in)ing Accessibility in Karelia, Russia
The History of Disability in Russia – Спецвыпуск ЖУРНАЛ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ПОЛИТИКИ!
I am really excited to be included as a review author in this amazing special issue edited by Marianna Muravyeva, which for the first time collects a wide array of articles around the history of disability in Russia. The journal is published in Russian - so for those of you who read Russian, dig in! … Continue reading The History of Disability in Russia – Спецвыпуск ЖУРНАЛ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ПОЛИТИКИ!
In the “news” in Petrozavodsk
Having recently arrived in Petrozavodsk as part of my dissertation research, I was invited to tell students at the summer school session at the municipal center for children with disabilities about life in Chapel Hill North Carolina. My presentation made it on to the organization's website under the news category! Check it out here.
cassandra hartblay 