On Wednesday, Exploring Employment, Equity and Community for People with Developmental Disabilities (SEEC) hosted First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. The visit was coordinated by the Office of Community Living and the U.S. Department of State.
SEEC is a nonprofit organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Montgomery County and Washington, DC, helping individuals pursue careers, relationships, recreation and personal growth.
The visit was led by Karen Lee, SEEC’s executive director and national specialist in disability services. The First Lady, who is in Japan for the NATO Summit, visited SEEC-supported facilities to learn how people with disabilities can enjoy life in the community.
The delegation then attended a roundtable discussion at SEEC’s offices in Silver Spring, which included more than 15 disability leaders from the public and private sectors, including the Department of Community Living, the U.S. Department of State, the Maryland Office on Disabilities, and the National Council on Disabilities.
n Independent Living, USAID and UNICEF shared ideas on improving Ukraine’s disability support system.
“This visit revealed how community support can improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families,” said SEEC CEO Karen Lee. “We learned a lot from the First Lady and her team about the challenges they face in Ukraine.”
A video highlighting the experience was produced by the Ukrainian delegation and can be found on Zelenska’s Instagram page.
For more information about SEEC and its programs, visit the SEEC website