The Western Transportation Institute (WTI), in partnership with Moscow State University for Transport Engineering (MIIT) will establish a new U.S.-Russia Peer-to-Peer Dialogue Program aimed at enhancing the competencies of transportation personnel in ensuring a barrier free environment to mobility for persons with disabilities. The Peer-to-Peer program will allow the partner institutions to facilitate the exchange of information, training methodologies and practices, and curricula for training transportation staff in working with disabled people on transport. The project will improve understanding of mutual challenges and solutions within the larger context of global “game changers” like technological advancements as well as differences in national regulatory, policy, and funding environments. The project will facilitate the exchange of experience between trainers/educators, transportation organization staff, and advocates for the disabled.

Two key activities will be carried out:

• Webinar Series: Project collaborators at MIIT and WTI will work to identify experts in Russia and the United States to conduct a series of monthly webinars (8 total) focused on information exchange.
• Peer exchanges: The project will provide the opportunity for a core group of educators, transportation professionals, and non-profit advocates to visit counterparts in the U.S. and Russia for a tour of transportation and training facilities as well as working sessions on training development.