Russia’s First Deputy Minister of Education, Dmitry Glushko, said that more than half of children with disabilities attend inclusive schools.
Most schools accept children with disabilities but not all schools have specialists and barrier-free environments.
Speaking at the Formula of Education forum, Deputy Minister Glushko said it is important for parents to have the choice of what type of education environment is convenient and comfortable for, and most importantly, gives a positive effect for their children with disabilities.
A study by the Aktion Education group of services showed that 87% of schools never refused to accept children with disabilities, but 39% of teachers said that one-on-one work was impeded by the lack of specialists to help. There are no tutors, psychologists and other specialists in educational schools for children with disabilities.
17% of schools are not prepared to accept children with disabilities; they do not have ramps, elevators, or wide aisles.
In 9% of schools, insufficient qualifications of teachers are preventing them from providing high-quality inclusive education – they are simply not ready to work with children that have disabilities.
