Modifying Curricula to Support Students with Special Needs – Step Toward Inclusion in Higher Education

Abstract

Relevance: Inclusion in higher education is a key area of transformation of modern educational systems aimed at creating equal opportunities for students with special needs. Therefore, the study of the adaptation of curricula for students with special needs in the education system is a relevant area for further scientific explorations. Objective: The purpose of the preset academic paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive education in Ukraine, to identify problems and challenges related to the adaptation of curricula for students with special needs. Methods: Several methods were used in the course of the qualitative research: synthesis of literature sources, comparative legal method as well as methods of systematization and generalization. In addition, statistical analysis was applied to assess the dynamics of accessibility of educational services as well as quantitative analysis methods to calculate the overall inclusiveness index based on weighting coefficients and normalized indicators. Results: According to the results of the research, it should be noted that the support of teachers (X2) has a statistically significant positive impact on the overall satisfaction with educational services of students with SEN (r = 0.142, p = 0.007), while the availability of resources (X1) does not demonstrate such an impact (r = 0.264, r = 0.037). Conclusions: The results of the research confirm the need to develop inclusive education in Ukraine, in particular, through the adaptation of the educational environment and curricula to the individual needs of students with special educational needs.  The novelty of the conclusions lies in the detailed justification of the need for flexible adaptation of educational programs and integration of digital technologies (in particular, the expansion of inclusive infrastructure through the introduction of specially equipped spaces for students) to support students with special needs in martial law, as well as the development of recommendations for improving inclusive practices in Ukrainian educational institutions based on European experience.