SPECIAL ASPECTS OF DISABLED PEOPLE'S IDENTIFICATION IN A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

The article tells about the special aspects of the development of the social identity of disabled young people in the university. It also discusses the issues of the attitude towards disability, the activity of the Center for Support of Disabled Students which forms the positive identity among young people and the resources of the Learning by Development in the university. The system of support of disabled students is well-developed in European universities, there is a barrier-free space there, disabled students have equal opportunities with other students in the studying process. This system is just beginning its functioning in Russia. The activities for support of disabled students in Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR) started in the 2006/07 academic year. It began because of the development of Learning by Development (LBD) in TUSUR. This is a form of students' scientific activity in which they choose the issue and try to improve the reality in the sphere of this issue, for the benefit of the society. A group of students of the Humanitarian Faculty began to research the issue of disabled students' support in a technical university, and then several other groups researching this issue were created. This issue was elaborated by the methods of logical and structure approach during four academic semesters. The students made articles and presented them at the conferences. Every two years the topic of the project changed due to the widening of the research frames and accents. Today the fifth project team researches the issue of disabled youngsters' support. In 2011, a self-regulating organization of students and teachers, the Center for Support of Disabled Students (CSDS), was established. CSDS gained a room for group work, equipped a toilet, a rampant and hand-rails with the help of the rector. So, the barrier-free area was created on the ground floor of the main building of TUSUR and the new possibilities for different services for disabled students appeared. For example, additional lessons and consultations are held in this room. Nowadays the Center is the coordinator of activities, it develops the project activity of the students, organizes communication between disabled and non-disabled students, it is the center of psychological and pedagogical work, consultations and trainings, it creates public opinion. Disabled students and youngsters are involved into the common activity because of the continuity of the project activity and also the combination of social services, research and cultural activity. This fact has a positive influence on establishing the social identity of the youth. The growth of self-esteem of disabled people, the development of their personal potential lead to adoption of the values and social behavior which correspond to the expectations of society.