This article describes the development of the integration of children with different kinds of disabilities into mainstream education. The idea of integration, which was suggested and substantiated by the Belarusian-born psychologist Lev Vygotski (1896–1934), was recognized in western European schools and in the USA and has only recently started actively developing in Russia and in Belarus, the former Soviet Union. However, the concept of integrated education remains an object of controversial discussion. Mainstream education has its positive and negative features. It is not clear enough whether criteria such as social status, academic success and level of skills can provide the evidence that integrated education is or is not effective. This article gives an insight into the integrative education system in Belarus. It describes the current situation of the use of special education and attitudes towards disabled children, and the professional training of educators who work with these children.