THE ESSENCE AND IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Аннотация

This article explores the content, essence, significance, and practical aspects of inclusive education. Inclusive education is a humanistic education system that ensures learning opportunities for children in need of special support alongside their typically developing peers. The article discusses various stages of educational integration (physical, functional, social) and their role in paving the way toward inclusive education. It also addresses the practical experience and efforts of defectologists in Uzbekistan aimed at developing inclusive education. The main idea presented in the article is to create equal opportunities for every child and to transform society into an integrated and humanisticsystem. Keywords: inclusive education, educational integration, physical integration, functional integration, social integration, children with special needs, defectological services, equal opportunity, resource teacher, adapted curriculum, humanisticsociety. Inclusive education is a type of educational system designed for children and youth with special needs. It is individualized, adaptable based on specific conditions, and grounded in a compassionate approach. This educational process is carried out within institutions where typically developing children study. The term "inclusive" means "to involve," which reflects the concept of integrating children with physical or mental developmental disabilities into the same educational environment as theirtypically developing peers. To implement inclusive education effectively, an individual approach is required for each child. Conditions must be adapted based on their specific needs. If necessary, educational programs and lesson plans are partially modified. A child in need of support attends a preschool or school located close to home and in a comfortable setting. At these institutions, the primary work is carried out bytheeducatoror class teacher. Each preschool or school includes a specially trained resource teacher, who assists and provides guidance tothe group educator. Theirresponsibilities include:  Providingspecial teaching aidsand equipment;  Conductingawareness sessions with parents and teachers;  Making justified modifications to lesson plans and educational programs, ifneeded;  Enhancing thequalifications and professional skillsofeducators;  Organizinghealthcare services and fostering apositivepsychological environment. Inclusive education promotes equality of opportunity. It not only ensures an individualized approach for children with special needs but also fosters social inclusion — enabling everyone in society to find their place while reinforcing social equality, tolerance, and mutual respect. Thissystem:  Cultivates compassion, empathy, and helpfulness among typically developing children;  Encourages theacceptance ofdiverse abilitiesand needs as anormal part oflife; page1651 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue05,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai  Lays the foundation for building an inclusive society where every individual can actively participate in communitylife. In practice, inclusiveeducation involves:  Teachers undergoing special training to tailor instruction to each child’s developmental trajectory;  Introduction of adapted assessment criteria, ensuring fair evaluation of academic outcomes;  Collaborative work among multidisciplinary teams (psychologists, special educators, speech therapists, resourceteachers);  Adjustment of educational materials in terms of format, volume, and complexity (e.g., audiobooks, large printtexts, tactile learning tools). Placing a child with physical or mental developmental disabilities into a mainstream preschool or school is the first step toward educational integration. There are various forms and levels ofeducational integration. In physical integration, the goal is to minimize the physical differences between children with disabilities and their typically developing peers. This may involve establishing special classrooms ordepartments. In functional integration, the aim is toreduce functional differences as much as possible. One effective method is to involve children with special needs in music, arts, drama clubs, and sportsactivities. Social integration seeks to reduce social barriers by fostering friendships and mutual respect between children with and without disabilities. It also encourages typically developing children tobecome more empatheticand compassionate. Society must maintain a respectful attitude toward individuals with disabilities. All provisions of our Constitution apply equally to them. Any form of educational integration contributes to improving the quality of inclusive education. At the heart of inclusive education is the child witha disability, who is provided with comprehensivecare andsupport. The term “integrated” means something that is unified and i