TACTILE MANUALS AS A MEANS OF SENSORY DEVELOPMENT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Authors:   Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University at Cherkasy, ZOROCHKINA Tetiana , LYTVYN Inna ,   Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University at Cherkasy, ZAIKA Alina ,   Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University at Cherkasy
Published: January 2025

The modern education system is actively implementing inclusion, which requires adapting the learning environment for children with special educational needs. One of the key aspects of this adaptation is creating conditions for the development of the sensory sphere, which forms the foundation for learning. The sensory sphere is essential for developing cognitive skills, speech, fine and gross motor skills. Sensory perception disorders in children with special educational needs can lead to learning difficulties, reduced concentration, communication barriers, and challenges in socialization. Therefore, researching methods and tools to support sensory development in inclusive education settings is highly relevant.

Aim of the Article. To theoretically substantiate and experimentally verify the effectiveness of using tactile manuals as a means of sensory development for younger schoolchildren with special educational needs (visual impairments).

Methods: Theoretical: study of scientific, methodological, psychological, pedagogical, and specialized literature on the research problem; Empirical: pedagogical experiment; Statistical: methods of mathematical statistics.

The study highlights the specific features of sensory development in younger schoolchildren with special educational needs. Tactile manuals are theoretically justified as a means of sensory development for younger schoolchildren with visual impairments.

The most noticeable improvements were observed in the aspects of sensory development targeted by developmental sessions using tactile manuals. After introducing these manuals, one student achieved a high level of sensory development, another reached an average level, and no students remained at a low level. The obtained results demonstrate an overall increase in the sensory development level of younger schoolchildren with visual impairments, along with improvements in specific types of sensations and perceptions. These findings confirm the effectiveness of the developed tactile manuals as a means of sensory development for this category of children.

Scientific Novelty of the Research Results. Expanded understanding of the specific features of sensory development in younger schoolchildren with special educational needs; Developed original tools for the sensory development of younger schoolchildren with visual impairments; Advanced the implementation of sensory development tools for primary school-aged children with visual impairments.

Conclusions and Specific Recommendations. The results of the experiment confirmed the effectiveness of tactile manuals. They contributed to the improvement of students’ sensory development, particularly in their ability to recognize shapes, colors, sizes, sounds, as well as tactile and olfactory characteristics of objects. Thus, integrating tactile manuals into the educational process of younger schoolchildren with visual impairments is appropriate and promotes the enhancement of sensory skills, which, in turn, increases the overall level of children’s development, improves their adaptation, and enhances their quality of life.

However, this study does not exhaust all aspects of the problem of sensory development in younger schoolchildren with special educational needs, as the tools were implemented exclusively with younger schoolchildren with visual impairments. Therefore, future research should focus on applying the developed sensory development tools to other categories of children with special educational needs.