Mark Alter
Professor of Educational Psychology
New York University, New York, New York
Field: Special Education
Host: Hanoi University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam
Dates of Grant: April 4, 2005 - April 22, 2005

Buddhist pilgrims journey to Chua Huong (Vietnam’s Perfume Pagoda) “to pray for happiness and prosperity in the coming year,” Mark Alter recounts. His ascent to this serene site, accompanied by his daughter Jordana and colleagues, brought Alter the joys of “forming friendships, involvement in the rhythm and life of another culture and experiences that touched our inner being.” As he struggled with his bad knees along the steep 4-kilometer path, he found comforting help all along the way. Alter had noticed the same spirit upon arrival in Hanoi, where new friends guided him across busy streets and introduced him to the nourishing soup pho. At Hanoi University of Education, Alter conducted lectures, seminars and discussions on classroom education for students with disabilities. He recalls, “We made learning a collective activity, a dynamic process in which we exchanged ideas, perceptions and practices.” The special education professor appreciated his “incredible opportunity” to meet with parents of children with autism and to visit schools. Citing Vietnam’s commitment to children with disabilities and their families, he observed that “All education springs from an optimistic image of the future.” Education for all children in Vietnam looks very promising.

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