Opportunities for Non-Formal Education for People With Special Educational Needs

Abstract

The article deals with non-formal education as an environment for expanding the potential of the individual (intellectual, competence, creative, social) and the prospects of obtaining such education by people with special educational needs. The purpose of the article is to reveal the possibilities of non-formal education for people with special educational needs on the basis of the analysis of scientific literature. Methods. To achieve the research goal, the author used such methods as analysis of scientific literature, observation; system analysis, comparative analysis, method of classification, methods of systematization, generalization, logical analysis, analogy, analysis of personal teaching experience in pedagogical higher education establishment, comparison and interpretation of results. The results. Based on the analysis of scientific and methodological literature, it was found that there are a number of basic documents that define equal access to education and guarantee the provision of quality educational services to categories of people with special educational needs. Such documents regulate the issues of providing non-formal education as well. Typical forms of non-formal education are defined as various courses, interest groups and public associations. Today, the forms of non-formal education have also diversified: from traditional lectures and workshops to open educational platforms, dual forms of work (combination of training and professional activities), simulators, volunteer and educational work. Webinars are especially popular as options for free communication with specialists in certain fields, who provide available theoretical material and highlight their practical experience. Conclusions. The article notes that people with special educational needs prefer creative forms of work, because they allow them to reveal individual abilities, but today the boundaries of social realization through non-formal education have significantly expanded. The benefit of the study is that the author stated that non-formal education has unlimited opportunities in this area, which realizes the needs of individuals in acquiring knowledge in a way convenient for them. The most common forms of non-formal education are defined as various courses, webinars, online conferences and seminars, interest groups, public associations, which allows people with special educational needs to join the development of civil society and exercise their rights and freedoms.