TEACHER READINESS FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION OF DISABLED STUDENTS

The article describes the teacher’s readiness for distance learning of students with disabilities in higher education institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article defines the leading principles of distance education and formulates the problems of managing this process. The authors have conducted a research including questionnaires and interviews with teachers of universities that provide educational activities to disabled students. Resulting data are analyzed, factors affecting the formation of teachers personal attitude to distance education students with disabilities are elicited. The authors revealed a positive attitude of teachers towards the education of disabled students, it is noted that they have a positive motivation in providing all necessary conditions for effective education of this category of students. Teachers are interested in obtaining the necessary knowledge on the organization of distance education for students with disabilities and increasing their own professional qualifications. However, the results of this survey have identified the lack of teacher’s understanding of the characteristics of the psychophysical development of disabled persons, ignorance of the perception specifics of students with hearing and visual disabilities, insufficient understanding of psychological features (fatigue, attention and perception, the visual thinking prevalence, etc.). Teachers of higher educational institutions had difficulty in determining the form of presentation of lecture material, the selection of pedagogical techniques and means of organizing and monitoring the performance of independent practical work. The teachers had some difficulties with the adaptation of educational materials in accessible forms for students with impaired vision and hearing, the materials should be specific and accessible for their understanding. There were particular difficulties in explaining by teachers of abstract concepts and theoretical positions. Based on the identified difficulties in the implementation of distance learning for disabled students describes the possible risks inherent in inclusive higher education. The necessary conditions for organizing the process of distance education for disabled students are highlighted, it should increase readiness of teachers to work with students with disabilities.