Expert Assessment of Contemporary Problems of Inclusive Educational Environment Formation (Results of a Sociological Research)

Since the introduction of statistical accounting in 1996 and up to the present time in Russia there has been a continuous increase in the number of children with disabilities aged 0 to 15 years. The negative trend is sustainable and has led to an increase in the number of children with disabilities during this period by 63.5%. The modern system of special and inclusive education, along with the main task of transferring knowledge and forming behavioral skills, is assigned the functions of habilitation and socialization of the child, his psychological and pedagogical correction. The objective of the study is to identify current problems of forming an educational environment for children with disabilities and disabilities and to obtain an expert assessment of the system of factors influencing its formation. Materials and methods. Regional sociological study, collection of information using the focus group method, expert assessment. The experts were representatives of the special education system - teachers and specialists in integrated and inclusive education with the necessary knowledge and work experience. Results. The problems of development of human resources and provision of qualified personnel in the field of special education, availability of relevant competencies and skills, psychological readiness, empathy and adaptability to work with children with disabilities and disabilities are identified and characterized. An expert assessment of the regulatory, educational and methodological, material and technical support of special education and the formation of the educational environment, the expert community's view of the depth and significance of existing problems are given.