Special education in Russia: history, reality, and prospects

Special education in Russia is undergoing major change. It is shifting from a system that was first established under the Soviet communist regime over 70 years ago to one that reflects a more humanistic view of children with disabilities. To describe special education in Russia, this article (a) explains the background information on the formation of a Russian-American partnership, (b) offers an historical perspective of special education in Russia, (c) reviews the current status of special education in Russia and in particular the Sverdlovsk Oblast, and (d) forecasts future directions of Russian special education. In considering new goals and future directions for special education in Russia, the authors suggest that the policies and legislation developed by the Provinces in Canada may offer a workable model for a Russian special education system.