THE INFLUENCE OF THE LATEST SOCIETY CHALLENGES ON DIFFERENT INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER TRAINING IN THE USA

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the impact of the latest challenges of the globalized society on special education teacher training in the United States and Ukraine. For the needs of our research current instructional programs 13.1013 – Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism and 13.1008 –Education/TeachingofIndividualswithOrthopedicandOtherPhysicalHealthImpairments that are used for the US educators’ preparation were proposed as examples. The global onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the common lifestyle for the majority people. Constant uncertainty, social distancing, enormous off-schedule work and distance learning in the face of changing external constraints create an atmosphere of nervous tension that undoubtedly affects all people, but people with disabilities can be observed as especially vulnerable to these and other challenges. The researchers report symptoms of anxiety and depression among young people, feeling of having been left out of the society. There is no doubt in the necessity to support vulnerable students' mental health normalization mostly by psychologists and teachers. In order to adapt to innovations, educators should unite in professional pedagogical associations and become "agents of change". With the reference to the recommendations of the Council for Exceptional Children and scientific researches, the paper describes the list of professional skills a special teacher needs to obtain in the current conditions. Due to distance learning conditions teachers of students with autism should be able to take into account factors of social interaction and possible behaviours and communication that can affect the effectiveness of educational activities online. Together with proper arranging of classroom furniture and assigning seats, teachers of students withorthopedicandotherphysicalhealthimpairments should gain the skills of effective online communication, tailoring instructional methods, using technical and non-technical educational tools, and recognizing physical condition of a student for proper combining different academical tasks and physical exercises.