Problems and perspectives of children with special needs

Abstract

The paper deals with problems faced by children with special needs and the perspectives for their development. The research on the environment in which children with special needs live testify to what extent the community provides for their development. Since the environment is not encouraging obstacles are numerous, often detrimental due to prejudice, stereotypes and negative attitudes. However, our research data show that organized activities in the process of inclusive education significantly contribute to the changes in attitudes towards children with special needs, which creates favorable conditions for quality in education and overall development. Changing attitudes concerning children with special needs and creating conditions for discovering their preserved potential, through the interaction with other children, are the basis for their further development and, to the extent to which they are capable of it, training for future independent life. The paper suggests that inclusive education is a possible solution for the children with special needs and the way to stimulate and improve their development.

U radu se razmatraju problemi dece sa posebnim potrebama i perspektive za njihov razvoj. Istraživanja uslova u kojima žive deca sa posebnim potrebama svedoče o meri u kojoj sredina obezbeđuje mogućnosti za njihov razvoj. Brojne su prepreke jer uslovi nisu podsticajni, često su ometajući zbog predrasuda i stereotipa i na njima zasnovanih negativnih stavova. Međutim, podaci naših istraživanja pokazuju da organizovane aktivnosti u procesu inkluzivnog obrazovanja značajno doprinose menjanju stavova i odnosa prema deci sa posebnim potrebama, čime se stvaraju uslovi za njihovo kvalitetno obrazovanje i razvoj u celini. Menjanje predstave o deci sa posebnim potrebama i stvaranje uslova da se, u interakciji sa vršnjacima, otkriju njihovi očuvani potencijali predstavlja osnovu za dalji razvoj ove dece i, u granicama njihovih mogućnosti, osposobljavanje za samostalan život. Cilj ovog rada je da istakne da je inkluzivno obrazovanje moguće rešenje problema sa kojima se suočavaju deca sa posebnim potrebama i način da se njihov razvoj stimuliše i unapređuje.