Impact of inclusive education on improving the quality of life of totally blind students

¹ Kursk State University, Language Theory and Foreign Language Teaching Chair, Kursk, Russia
² Kursk State University, Translation and Intercultural Communnication Chair, Kursk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: v_klimentyeva@mail.ru

Abstract

The desire of contemporary society to improve the quality of life through the organization of wider access to education for people with disabilities raises several issues concerning the conditions for organizing inclusive education. In the article based on theoretical analysis and practical experience in implementing five-year research and educational project in cooperation with the Moscow City University, the hypothesis is substantiated that using specially developed didactic materials, individual training of applicants according to an adapted curriculum, and adaptive teaching methods, it is possible to ensure successful foreign language training of a foreign language teacher for blind and visually impaired adults enrolled in the inclusive education in an undergraduate program. The purpose of the study is to find the possibilities of teaching a foreign language to totally blind adults studying in an inclusive educational environment of a higher educational institution with the subsequent successful implementation of their professional activities. The scientific novelty of the research is seen in the development and testing of a model of methodically substantiated professionally-focused educational trajectory of foreign language education for totally blind adults studying at the university. Using classical research methods, such as the study of scientific literature and accumulated methodological experience, trial training, observation, and questionnaires, the researchers came to conclusions about the feasibility and productivity of the proposed approach to teaching English to blind students in an inclusive environment, contributing to a more effective professional training of people with disabilities, improving their self-esteem, better adaptation to life, as well as professional and personal advancement of all participants in the educational process.