Current trends in the architectural design of inclusive schools

Abstract

Introduction. The co-authors address current trends in the architectural design of inclusive schools. Their mission is to maximize the social involvement and integration of disabled children into groups of kids. The purpose of this research is to identify guidelines for designing inclusive schools and to make recommendations for the design of inclusive schools that conduct adaptation events. Materials and methods. The co-authors have used methods of comparative analysis and synthesis of foreign and Russian research, literary and design materials; findings of sociological surveys; a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses medicine, social science, and legal norms, that influence the guidelines for designing inclusive schools. Results. The research is focused on developing guidelines for designing inclusive schools and recommendations on the design of inclusive schools whose administration conducts adaptation events for children with minor disabilities and a normal level of intelligence, the vision acuity of, at least, 0.4 diopters, the hearing impairment of 26 to 40 dB, minor muscle-skeleton disorders, including wheelchair users, capable of getting around on their own. These results may be taken advantage of by architects, designing inclusive schools; they can also be taught at universities of architecture. Conclusions. The co-authors make recommendations for the design of inclusive schools designated for particular categories of disabled persons. The analysis of problems in the context of architectural and space-planning design of inclusive school buildings will allow to improve their structure and study their typology with a view to further development. The deve­lopment of inclusive education, which is also regarded from the standpoint of architectural and space-planning design, draws human attention to the problem of responsibility for disabled children that must be be assumed by the society and the state.