The People Involved
Professor Roy McConkey.
Roy is the Project Director. He is a psychologist by training and a native of Belfast, he has previously held posts at the University of Manchester, in Dublin and in Scotland. He has worked in the field of intellectual disability for over 30 years and has authored, co-authored and edited over 15 books, and published over 100 book chapters and research papers in learned journals. He has acted as a consultant to various United Nations agencies and International NGOs. This work has taken him to some 20 countries in Africa, Asia and South America.
Email: r.mcconkey@ulster.ac.uk Or phone 44 28 90 36 88 89
Sandra Dowling
Sandra is the Project Manager. She holds a BA (Hons) in social anthropology and a Masters degree in Refugee Studies. Her PhD examined the reconstruction of identity in young people following an acquired brain injury. She is interested in methodological development in research with young and vulnerable people. She has worked in research in intellectual disability and in child health since 2000 at St George’s Hospital Medical School and King’s College London where she worked on a range of projects focusing on intellectual disabilities, child development and public health. Sandra recently returned to her native Northern Ireland where she lives with her husband and young son.
Email: Sandra.dowling@kcl.ac.uk Or phone 44 28 92 61 23 17
Dr David Hassan
David’s research expertise concerns the relationship between sport and national identity, the politics of sport and sport governance. He has published extensively in each of these areas. At present he is working on three books; one deals with football governance, another on sport migration and a third on the history of world motor sport. He has a particular interest in the contribution that sports can make to the creation of social capital. Email: d.hassan@ulster.ac.uk
Or phone: 44 28 90 36 66 66
Sabine Brecklinghaus
Sabine has been managing the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Youth, Education and Unified Sports programs since March 2003. In 2002 Sabine graduated with a Master in Sport Sciences from the German Sport University Cologne. In 2005, she completed, an Executive Master in Sport Organization Management (MEMOS) at the University of Lyon 1/France, a postgraduate master studies with support of the International Olympic Committee. Sabine was involved in Special Olympics Germany as a volunteer from 1993 until 2003
Email: sbrecklinghaus@specialolympics.org
Or phone 32 472 48 52 74
Professor Patricia Noonan Walsh
The team is advised by Professor Patricia Noonan Walsh from the Centre for Disability Studies at University College, Dublin.
Patricia Noonan Walsh is Professor emerita of Disability Studies at UCD, Dublin. and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Disability, Law and Policy, National University of Ireland, Galway. She was Principal Investigator of POMONA-2, a project with 14 countries represented (2005-2008) that was funded by the European Commission DG-Public Health to apply a set of health indicators related to the health of people with intellectual disabilities in Europe. She was co-editor with Tamar Heller of Health of Women with Intellectual Disabilities (2002 - published by Blackwell) and co-author with Barbara LeRoy of Women with Disabilities Aging Well: A global view (2004 - Paul H. Brookes). A Long Walk to School, presentinginternational experiences of inclusive education will be published in 2010 (Vianne Timmons and P.N. Walsh, eds.). Professor Walsh is a Fellow of IASSID - International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities - and on its behalf co-organized an international conference on Human Rights and Intellectual Disabilities in Santiago, Chile (September 2007). In Ireland, she is a board member of Best Buddies Ireland, aGovernor of the Rotunda Hospitaland a member of the Expert Group convened by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to advise the Enhancing Disability Initiative. Professor Walsh served on the National Council on Special Education 2007-2009. She is a member of the steering committee of the high-level group convened by WHO-Europe to develop policy on the health of children and young people with intellectual disabilities in Europe. In November 2009, Professor Walsh was a visiting scholar at the Joint Bioethics and Health Policy Program promoted by Yale University and the Hastings Center, Garrison NY. Professor Walsh has advised the research initiative of Special Olympics since 2007.
Email: patricia.walsh@ucd.ie
Our colleagues in Poland
Maciej Wilski
I am psychologist and research worker in Chair of the Physical Culture of the Disabled in University of Physical Education in Poznan. I have Ph.D. in physical culture sciences (Ph.D. dissertation: Personal and social predictors of self-care in persons with myocardial infarction) and experience in social sciences (M.A. in psychology; M.A. in physiotherapy). I have 6 years experience in teaching physical culture of the disabled, psychology, sport psychology and rehabilitation psychology and 4 years experience in cooperation with associations, organizations and institutions working for the intellectually disabled.
Anna Nadolska
I am a scientist in the Rehabilitation Institute at Academy of Sport Education in Poznan, Poland.
My research interests include children and youth with intellectual disability in the ecological aspect, psychomotoric and encouragement in the development of movement in small children with intellectual disabilities and in Adapted Physical Activity. Since 2007 – co-ordinator of the Fit Feet Project for Special Olympics Poland.
Our colleagues in Serbia
Milana Jeremic.
I was born in Belgrade, Serbia on 21.11.1980.
I have a university degree (Masters) from Belgrade University, History department, where I graduated in 2005 in English and American history. I started work at Special Olympics Serbia in February 2004, as the National Administrator, and have co-ordinated many projects, including the Unified Football project.
My interests include languages (I speak fluent English and have a knowledge of French and German), history, music and sports.
I live at my family’s home in Belgrade, Serbia.
Fadilj Eminovic
Fadilj Eminovic is professor at Belgrade University,in the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation in the Department for People with Motor Skill Disorders. Since 2006 he has been engaged by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy to review and evaluate project applications submitted by social organizations and associations. He is member of the Presidency Section of Somathopeth of Serbia. Fadilj Eminovic is also a member of the reviewer and editorial board in various international scientific journals. He has published over 120 scientific papers in journals and at conferences within Serbia and abroad. He is organizer of scientific meetings, participant in international scientific projects and he lectures by invitation.
Our colleagues in Ukraine
Eugeniy Goncharenko
My name is Eugeniy Goncharenko. I’m 25 and I’m Ukrainian. My native city is Kyiv. In 2006 I graduated from National University of physical education and sports of Ukraine (Olympic and professional department). In 2009 I graduated the postgraduate course. I’m engaged in the research as a research asssistant. I have been collaborating with Special Olympics Ukraine as a volunteer since 2005.
Irina Kogut
My name is Irina Kogut. I am the Research Associate for data collection in Ukraine. I have graduated from the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine, department of physical rehabilitation. I’m an associate professor of Olympic and Professional Sports sub-department of NUPESU and I’m a candidate of science in physical education and sport. I have been cooperating with Special Olympics of Ukraine as a volunteer since 2004.
Svitlana Goncharenko
My name is Svitlana Goncharenko. I’m 23 and I’m Ukrainian. My native city is Kyiv. In 2008 I graduated from National Pedagogical University named after M.P. Dragomanov. I have a Master’s degree in English and French languages. I work as a teacher of English and French. I am working on the research in Ukraine by providing the Ukrainian-English translation.
Our colleagues in Germany
Dr. Florian Pochstein
Florian is a sports scientist and is working at the Institute for Sport and Sports Sciences at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel/Germany. His research topics amongst others are intellectual disability and sport, health psychology and competitive sports for people with disabilities. He is assistant of the Scientific Advisory Board Special Olympics Germany and very well known to intellectual disability studies in Germany and is head of education and training in Special Olympics Schleswig-Holstein.
Magdalena Bethge
Magda holds a master degree in Sport Sciences from the University of Kiel and has started her Ph. D. Studies in January 2009. She is involved in several research studies concerning competitive sports for people with disabilities and rehabilitation from back pain.
Our colleagues in Hungary
Anita Virányi
I’m assistant lecturer at Eötvös Loránd University Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Education. I hold BA degree in Special Education of Children with Learning Disabilities and BA degree in Special Education of Physically Handicapped Children and MA degree in Special Education on both two fields. I’m interested in motoric development of children with mild intellectual disability. Now I’m a PhD student and my PhD is focusing on new educational possibilities for children with learning disabilities as members of the Digital Generation. I take part in research and studies regarding the cooperation of higher education and disadvantaged regions in educational services for all students.
Enikő Regényi
I was born in Budapest, Hungary on 03.01.1976. I hold BA degree in Special Education of Children with Intellectual Disabilities and BA degree in Special Education of Physically Handicapped Children and MA degree in Special Education on both two fields. I also have MA degree from Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Theology and Faculty of Canon Law. I am an assistant lecturer on/in Eötvös Loránd University, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Education. I sometimes collaborate with Special Olympics Hungary as a volunteer since 2006.
Judit Félegyházi
I live in Budapest. I graduated from the University Eötvös Loránd as a special needs teacher in the field of intellectual disability. I have been working as an assistant lecturer at the University.
I think that sport and moving (especially dance for me) give really good chance to feel our strengths and completeness. I work together with people with intellectual disability and autism in different dance groups. During these activities it doesn’t matter what kind of diagnosis or handicap you have if you are true to yourself and give the best that you can.
Sára Pásztor, 23
I am a graduate student of Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Education in Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, in the Department of Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. I have experience in the area of teaching intellectually disabled people. I have published several articles on special education topics in the last two years. I speak both English and German and I am really excited about taking part in the project.
