Held at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on April 14–15, 2025, this hybrid event brought together over 300 experts and engaged more than 12,500 participants from across Russia and 17 countries. Sberbank’s Charitable Foundation “Contribution to the Future” served as the Conference’s General Partner.
The Conference’s online broadcasts of discussions, round tables, and master classes have garnered over 1.6 million views, demonstrating the strong public interest in inclusion and the lives of individuals with mental disabilities.
The diverse range of topics addressed included early intervention, palliative psychiatry, and the development of day centers. Participants explored traumatic childhood experiences, the challenges of educating children with ADHD, ethical considerations in psychiatric diagnosis, and the transition to adulthood for people with mental disabilities, including assisted living, employment, and health-promoting strategies. Dedicated sessions also focused on creating systematic inclusive environments, enhancing accessibility to culture and sports, developing alternative and augmentative communication methods, universal design principles, creative practices, and showcasing successful inclusion initiatives from the business sector.
The Conference aimed to foster collaboration and shared learning among state entities, professionals, and parent communities to develop and implement innovative approaches, methods, technologies, and practices for the rehabilitation and support of individuals with mental disorders.
Petr Polozhevet, CEO of Sberbank’s Charitable Foundation “Contribution to the Future” emphasized the Conference’s importance, stating: “Our Foundation is proud to support the Alliance’s Conferences for the past three years, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering partnerships among specialists and parents across Russia. The growing number of partners reflects our society’s progress towards a more inclusive world. This Conference serves as a vital platform for dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, and we are confident that, together, we can achieve significant positive change in this critical field.”
Dr. Alexander Asmolov, a leading voice in psychology and education, addressed the plenary session, emphasizing the inherent value of every individual. Asmolov, a Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education, Head of the Department of Personality Psychology at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Director of the School of Anthropology of the Future at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, stated: “The life of every person is the highest thing in the world. Its uniqueness, its singularity, is the lens through which we view different cultures. Any culture that fails to recognize the individual is destined for tragedy, depression, and a profound loss of meaning. As Alexei Ukhtomsky stated, the dominant feature of another person’s face is the key value that drives human development. Culture begins there.” Asmolov stressed the Conference’s core principle: prioritizing a culture of dignity over a culture of utility, where individuals are reduced to mere instruments for achieving external goals.
Echoing the theme of dignity, Olga Batalina, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Security of the Russian Federation, highlighted ongoing efforts to develop alternative living arrangements for individuals with mental disorders, specifically assisted living. Batalina noted significant legislative progress in this area over the past two years, creating a foundation for the expansion of assisted living programs across the regions. Batalina outlined the scale of the issue: Russia currently has 732 residential social care facilities (622 for adults and 110 for children), housing 177,000 individuals. However, as of October 1, 2024, only 1,700 of the nearly 7,000 participants in assisted living projects were permanent residents, with the remainder engaged in training programs. “The adoption of a comprehensive set of regulations and legal frameworks governing this area will enable us to make further progress,” she affirmed.
Building upon these points, Anna Bitova, Chairman of the Board of RNSO “Center for Curative Pedagogics” and the Alliance “The Value of Everyone,” discussed the Alliance’s vision for legislative change, emphasizing the crucial role of individuals with mental disorders and their families. “People with mental disorders and their parents must be actively involved in shaping these changes. They are the most powerful advocates, and they need to be empowered through public initiatives and parent NGOs. Self-advocacy is vital, but we currently have too few organizations led by individuals with mental disorders championing their own rights. We recognize the need to listen more attentively to their needs, as we must avoid making decisions on their behalf.”
The sentiment of “overcoming exclusion,” central to the Conference’s theme, resonated deeply with Aigul Gareeva, President of the Charitable Educational Foundation “Marhamat” (a co-organizer of the event). Gareeva stated, “The phrase ‘overcoming exclusion’ carries profound meaning. This Conference is dedicated to individuals who, in some way, experience life outside the mainstream. Our sessions focused on identifying the practical steps necessary to bridge that gap.”
Building on this, the President of the St. Petersburg Charitable Social Organization “Perspektivy” underscored the Conference’s vital role in fostering collaboration and generating hope. “Conferences like this are crucial for inspiring action and uniting efforts, including the search for solutions to seemingly intractable challenges. The collective energy of such creative, motivated, and experienced professionals inevitably leads to breakthroughs.”
Andrei Tsarev, Director of the Center for Curative Pedagogics and Differentiated Education in the Pskov Region, elaborated on the Conference’s unique atmosphere of trust and collaborative problem-solving. “Our discussions unfold within a space of genuine trust, with participants deeply invested in achieving tangible outcomes. While scientific research and practical achievements are undoubtedly valuable, the defining characteristic of this Conference is the spirit of inquiry and the open exploration of pressing issues. The scope of these discussions expands each year.”
For the second consecutive year, representatives from the business community actively participated, contributing to the dialogue on inclusion. This section, organized with the support of the Donors Forum Association of Grant-Making Organizations, convened leading experts, researchers, and business leaders to explore current research and best practices in the field of inclusion. The program featured analytical reviews and corporate social responsibility case studies from prominent companies, including PJSC Sberbank, EVRAZ, Gazprom-Media Holding, Yandex, MTS, Pyaterochka, Avito, T-Bank, Ultimate Education, Charitable Foundation “Svet,” and others. Participants explored internal and external inclusion strategies, the impact of inclusive programs on business sustainability, the crucial role of cross-sector collaboration, and the development of inclusive corporate cultures.
Recordings of all Conference sessions are available on the Center for Curative Pedagogics’ VKontakte page: https://vk.com/rboo_ccp
The Conference addressed key areas critical to fostering inclusion and supporting individuals with mental disabilities:
- Equal Rights for All Children: Ensuring equitable opportunities and access for children with diverse needs.
- Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC): Exploring and advancing communication methods for individuals with limited verbal abilities.
- Psychiatric Diagnosis: Enhancing Medical and Social Support: Examining crucial aspects of psychiatric diagnosis to improve the quality of medical and social assistance.
- Adulthood and Independent Living: Supporting individuals with mental disabilities in their transition to adulthood and promoting opportunities for independent living.
- Inclusion as a Culture of Care: Cultivating a society that embraces and values inclusion as a fundamental aspect of care and support.
- Inclusion in Action: Leadership and Innovation: Showcasing successful inclusion initiatives and highlighting the experiences of leaders driving positive change.
The Conference was made possible through the generous support and collaboration of numerous organizations:
- General Partner: Sberbank’s Charitable Foundation “Contribution to the Future”
- Organizers: The Alliance of Professional Organizations “The Value of Everyone,” RNSO “Center for Curative Pedagogics,” Charitable Educational Foundation “Markhamat,” NRSO “Rural Women’s Movement”
- Supporters: The Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Grants Fund, the Charitable Foundation “Absolut-Pomoshch,” and the Moscow Department of Labor and Social Security
- Partners: The Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Potanin’s Charitable Foundation, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, ANO “Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects,” All-Russian Organization of Parents of Children with Disabilities (VORDI), Novator LLC, SPLAT GLOBAL LLC, Charitable Foundation “Obraz Zhizni”, ANO “Expert and Methodological Center for the Support of Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families ‘Special Childhood,'” Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, Federal Resource Center for the Organization of Comprehensive Support for Children with ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Donors Forum
- Information Partners: Social Information Agency, Miloserdie.ru, Charity Magazine, InvaNews, “Business and Society,” “Open Non-commercial Organizations,” the portal “Children’s Psychology,” State University – Higher School of Economics, “PROSchool,” “Ultimate Education,” “RATIO”
Conference photography provided by Maria Avdeeva
About the Alliance of Professional Organizations “Value of Everyone”:
The Alliance “Value of Everyone” is a union of NGOs founded in May 2019. To date, it brings together 65 organizations from 29 regions of Russia. The Alliance’s mission is to help people with mental disabilities uphold their right to a typical childhood and adulthood, to education, work, and a dignified life, and to provide comprehensive support for their families and those who assist them.