When the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsored Mr. Marek Sikora of Poland as one of the many prestigious visitors to come to the United States each year as part of the International Visitor program, wheels were set in motion to make his three-week visit most productive. 

One person who helped in the coordination was Mike Meier, a volunteer and former intern with the World Affairs Council of Oregon located in Portland. “To be involved in putting together a high quality program for Mr. Sikora was a good learning experience for me,” said Meier, who uses a wheelchair and has traveled extensively.

Sikora, a city councilman and principal of one of the first Polish high schools to integrate students with disabilities, wanted to learn about the inclusion of people with disabilities in the civic and educational systems in the United States.  Meier had previous connections with Mobility International USA and other organizations in Eugene, Oregon, that could address these topics. “Mr. Sikora was particularly impressed with his program in Eugene, Oregon,” reported Chris Halecki, Sikora's escort interpreter. “Mr. Meier deserves to be commended for helping to make that segment of the project truly successful.” Sikora also visited the cities of Washington DC, Nashville, Dallas, Akron, and New York City to explore his other professional interests in local government operations, civic community centers, youth outreach programs and high school administration.

In Eugene, Sikora met with Marshall Peter, Director of Direction Service serving Lane County, regarding strategies for mediation between schools and parents of children with disabilities during the inclusion process. Peter explained that their strategies begin by drawing on a broad group of people other than just experts, and then this group works towards a collaborative resolution. “I was most struck by what an incredibly good, kind and enthusiastic person Mr. Sikora was,” recalled Peter, who has hosted several meetings with professionals from overseas. Sikora was eager to share his experiences in attempting to reduce physical and attitudinal barriers that arose during his high school’s integration efforts.

Another stop on Sikora’s visit was a meeting with Mary Feldman of the City of Eugene’s Human Rights Commission to discuss its role related to people with disabilities. On the way to her office inside the City Hall, Meier remembered Sikora stopping to comment on the access of the building. “It was really positive for him to see that the wheelchair ramp was built in the front of the building rather than on the side,” Meier said. “He thought it showed that disabled people were incorporated into the design and purpose of the building rather than as an afterthought.”

While policies or laws regulating equal access for people with disabilities exist in Poland, the lack of financial support often hampers implementation. Nevertheless, Sikora has been successful in his efforts to build new ramps into his Polish high school. “During Mr. Sikora’s visit with our organization, we were able to share how inclusion issues have been addressed here in the United States and learn about Mr. Sikora’s approach in Poland,” said Susan Sygall, Executive Director of Mobility International USA.

Meier’s experiences with the World Affairs Council of Oregon in hosting international visitors with and without disabilities “allowed me to connect with people in the community who are involved in the international scene,” he said. “Some of the events are really fun, and it’s always a good experience to meet new people and learn about other cultures. To this day I continue to interact with people that I met during my time volunteering.” In addition, Meier gained valuable professional skills that he draws upon in his current job. “The World Affairs Council of Oregon gave me a positive and quality experience that I could put on my resume, and they provided me with good recommendation letters that helped me get my [next] job,” Meier said.

The World Affairs Council of Oregon is one of many organizations hosting  international visitors in cities throughout the United States. Visitors travel alone or in groups with others interested in similar topics. Interpreters are provided for non-English speakers, and in addition visitors with and without disabilities can request an escort for traveling and assisting with logistics during their stay, explained Brenda Sprague, then Director of the Office of Language Services at the Department of State, which is reponsible for providing these services.

It is important that individuals from the disability community and community organizations addressing disability issues become involved in exchanging ideas with international visitors. “International visitors are enriched by their exposure to a diverse America, experiencing the myriad cultures, perspectives and lifestyles that make this country unique. Likewise, the United States benefits when all citizens get involved in these programs, internationalizing our communities as a whole,” expressed Wendy Amin, former Vice President for the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV). NCIV is a national network of program agencies and community-based organizations, including the World Affairs Council of Oregon.