From April 21 to 24, 2026, the Samara Region hosted the 11th regional “Abilympics” Championship—a prestigious competition showcasing professional skills among people with disabilities and limited health capabilities. This year, more than 730 participants competed across 60 skill categories, all united under the inspiring motto: “Every victory begins with a dream.”
Students from Samara University delivered outstanding performances, securing multiple podium finishes. Four university students with disabilities represented the institution at the event.
In the “Sign Language Interpretation” category, Ekaterina Fedosina claimed first place, while Tatiana Sudarikova earned second place. Both are third-year students in the Psychological and Pedagogical Education program, specializing in Psychology and Pedagogy of Inclusive Education (code 44.03.02).
In the “Translation” category, Yelena Ivanova, a second-year Linguistics student (45.03.02), secured second place.
True to its tradition, the championship served as an open platform for professional dialogue and public engagement. On April 22, as part of the official business program, the online conference “Horizons of Opportunity” was held for parents of children with disabilities. The event featured invited experts from Samara University: Andrey Rylov, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Director of the Center for Inclusive Education, and Natalia Klementyeva, a university tutor.
The conference resonated powerfully with families across the country, drawing an impressive audience of over 1.6 million viewers.
“The ‘Abilympics’ championship is a real-world mechanism for enhancing the employability of professionals with disabilities in the regional labor market,” said Olga Zholobova, Head of the Regional Center for the Development of the Abilympics Movement.
“The competencies showcased here span nearly every sector of the regional economy, vividly demonstrating not only the high level of professionalism among participants but also their inner strength, determination, and results-driven mindset. Year after year, competitors prove that opening new professional horizons and achieving meaningful success has nothing to do with physical limitations.”
For Reference:
The Abilympics movement is implemented under the federal project “Professionalism” within the national initiative “Youth and Children.” The 2026 regional championship was organized by the Ministry of Education of the Samara Region and the Regional Center for the Development of the Abilympics Movement, with support from the National Abilympics Center and the Presidential Platform “Russia – Land of Opportunity.”
