A Child With Disability as a Subject of Inclusive Processes

Background. The study of issues of inclusion of children with disabilities from the perspective of subjectivity is determined by the existing need to ensure the proper level of quality of life and well-being of this category of people. Children with disabilities constitute a large group of the child population that faces social barriers in the process of inclusion in social connections and relationships, which leads to their exclusion from typical childhood practices that ensure positive socialization. In this regard, the lifestyle, conditions of personal development and living during the childhood of a child with a disability are of great importance, largely determining his inclusion in society and the implementation of inclusive practices, which determined the perspective of the presented study. Purpose. To identify the subjective grounds for the inclusion of a disabled child in comparison with normotypical peers. Materials and methods. In 2023, the authors conducted a sociological study to identify the life competencies and nature of social activity of children with disabilities in comparison with their normotypical peers living in the Euro-Arctic region of the Russian Federation (n=584). Questionnaire and semi-structured interview methods were used. Results. The level and quality of social activity of children with disabilities is lower than normative children, which is also confirmed by other studies by modern Russian scientists. The main subjective barriers to the inclusion of an “atypical” child are low social activity, low level of productive activity, lack of communication with peers, lack of independence in decisions and underestimation of one’s abilities. Conclusion. The data obtained indicate the presence of subjective factors that can inhibit the inclusion of a child with disabilities in society. The results are of practical importance for parents, teachers, educational institutions, health care and social protection of the population in the development of preventive programs and measures to increase the effectiveness of the inclusion of children with persistent health problems in society.