On November 10, Saratov University hosted a panel discussion titled the Inclusive Practices of Social and Psychological Support for Students with Disabilities. It was moderated by the Association of Leading Universities of Russia. The meeting, which took place online on the ZOOM platform, brought together more than 70 participants from 15 regions of the country. The moderator of the panel discussion was Vice-Rector for Secondary Professional Education and Social Work Olga Nesterova.

The audience was greeted by SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko. ‘Each conversation, conference, panel discussion helps understand the topic deeper, expand the range of opportunities for teaching people with disabilities, reflect on the readiness of the teaching staff to implement adaptive educational programs, and adjust the postgraduate support of young specialists.’

The rector reminded that students with disabilities study both humanitarian and technical professions at Saratov University. The SSU Centre for Student Inclusive Education and Social Adaptation, the Faculty of Pedagogical and Special Needs Education, the Research-to-Methodology Centre for Psychological and Pedagogical Support of Families with Children with Special Educational Needs as well as the Department of Rehabilitation Technologies based on the Hope Sail Centre for Training and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities.

‘There are many criteria for inclusive education in a modern university. This is the accessibility of the environment, its barrier-free nature and the multi-stage process of preparing disabled people and their families for higher education, and the criterion for the employment of a graduate with disabilities,’ the rector said.

Then the audience listened to Head of the Secretary Office of the Association of Leading Universities Marina Lavrikova. ‘The Association of Leading Universities supports such an important event. The topic is inexhaustible and problematic. It is necessary to understand the requirements of inclusive education for universities, schools, and the education system as a whole. There remain pedagogical and organizational questions. The panel discussion programme is planned to be rich, it will become a new stage in understanding the topic and allow to find new solutions.’

At the plenary session, SSU Vice-Rector for Secondary Professional Education and Social Work Olga Nesterova delivered her speech. She commented on the model of social and psychological support for students with disabilities at Saratov University. Now the development of this system continues as we are modernising the barrier-free integrated information and educational environment, developing a system of effective social adaptation at all stages of socialisation (family – school – university – work), expanding the individual educational environment, promoting the development of the creative potential of students with disabilities, conducting a comprehensive social and psychological research to coordinate the interaction of the inclusive education system within the university as well as supporting our graduates.

According to her, 151 students with disabilities study at SSU. Among nosological groups the largest number of students is with general somatic diseases – 48%, the second place is obtained by the students with musculoskeletal disorders – 29%. The students with visual impairments account for 19% of the total number of students and with hearing impairments – 5%.

‘Our students with disabilities show good results not only in studies but in other activities, and this fact proves effectiveness of the system of social and psychological support, in our opinion. Philip Torishnyi and Julia Shishova are our outstanding Paralympic athletes. Denis Zaits and Alexandra Golubykh are prize-winners of cultural international and all-Russian festivals and competitions. Marat Kundrau and Vladimir Avladeyev are winners of the professional skill championship. Roza Yevtushenko and Tatiana Solovyova are university activists and volunteers,’ the vice-rector noted.

Professor of the Department of Foundations of Defectology and Rehabilitation, Herzen State Pedagogical University, Vitalii Kantor made a presentation on the following topic: the University Teaching Staff and Inclusive Higher Education: Professional and Personal Readiness. Director of the Resource Training and Methodological Centre, Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University, Tatyana Krasnopevtseva spoke about the network interaction of the RTMC of Minin University as a resource for the development of inclusive education.

Then the participants of the panel discussion were divided into three sections: The Social, Psychological, and Pedagogical Technologies for Comprehensive Support of Students with Disabilities at University, The Effective Interaction Methods of Subjects of Social and Psychological Support for Students with Disabilities, and The Issues and Risks of Employment Promotion Practices and Postgraduate Support of People with Disabilities.

In the second session hall, the event members discussed such reports as The Principle of Social Partnership – the Basis of Social and Psychological Support for People with Disabilities, The Role of Public Organisations in Forming of Universal Inclusive Environment, and The Inclusive Education in an Arts University: Problems and Solutions, etc.

The third section participants commented on topical issues of employment of graduates with disabilities, postgraduate support as well as the questions about the psychological characteristics of a personal professional perspective of students with disabilities.