On Wednesday, Seeking Employment, Equality and Community for People with Developmental Disabilities (SEEC) welcomed the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. The visit was coordinated by the Administration on Community Living and the U.S. Department of State.
SEEC is a nonprofit organization providing support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Montgomery County and Washington, D.C., helping individuals pursue work, relationships, recreation, and personal development.
Karen Lee, SEEC’s executive director and a national expert in disability services, led the visit. The First Lady, in town for the NATO Summit, visited a home supported by SEEC to see how community life can benefit people with disabilities.
The delegation then attended a roundtable at SEEC’s office in Silver Spring where more than 15 disability leaders from the public and private sectors, including the Administration on Community Living, the U.S. Department of State, the Maryland Department of Disabilities, the National Council o
n Independent Living, USAID, and UNICEF, shared ideas on improving Ukraine’s disability support system.
“This visit highlighted how community support can improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families,” said Karen Lee, CEO of SEEC. “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 their programs, visit their website.
