Psychological Make-up of Inclusive Education and its Ties with the Development of Digital Technologies

Abstract

This paper discusses psychological make-up of inclusive education, the importance of a barrier-free environment for physically challenged people. It looks at difficulties of obtaining university level education, problems of interpersonal communication and socialization, points out the leading role of digital technologies in the modern world and necessity of their introduction into the inclusive educational environment. Based on the results of MAI students survey we describe difficulties of communication with physically challenged peers, discuss different forms of psychological assistance inside the educational process. It turned out that contemporary youth is conscious of inclusive education problems. They are interested in removal of existing barriers and expanding social boundaries of communication including with people suffering from various health restraints. Young people also think that inadequate awareness of the problem leads to inaction and makes it impossible to give necessary psychological support to peers with special needs. The paper also discusses psychological and pedagogical support for people with special needs that can become the most accessible type of help in the future, and how introduction of digital technologies into inclusive education helps to solve main problems of their socialization and inclusion into society. We also touch an important question of the need for special correction-al training of the academic teaching staff in the inclusive education development system inside an institute of higher education.