Novgorod Oblast Research Articles

Анализ транспортной доступности населенных пунктов Республики Мордовия с использованием геоинформационных технологий

The study is devoted to the analysis of transport accessibility of the settlements in the Republic of Mordovia, which is proposed by the authors as one of the indicators for assessing the level of the transport system development. Methods of spatial analysis and graph theory are used to create a transport network model. The selection of graph elements includes settlements in Mordovia with a population of 2 000 people or more, as well as all sections of highways that provide the shortest paths between them. The measure of distance is used as impedance. The article discusses the usability of geographic and potential accessibility, as well as the detour index to detect problematic elements of the transport network, and compares the indicators using the ranking and classification methods. Using web mapping services and network analysis tools in GIS, the selected indicators were calculated and a series of maps were created to display them, using natural breaks classification method and graduated symbols as a method of cartographic representation. During the study, it was found that some of the shortest paths between the considered settlements of the Republic of Mordovia pass through the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, which indicates that the regional transport network goes beyond the borders of the federal subject. The problem of artificial barriers within one country at the level of municipal districts and federal subjects has been identified. The possibility of creating a project to improve transport accessibility of the region is being considered, and arguments in favor of the construction of missing direct connections between settlements of the Republic of Mordovia are given. The target indicators and limiting factors for improving the transport accessibility of settlements in the region are identified. The possibilities of further research using the obtained results for a comprehensive analysis of the regional transport system are considered.

Current State, Environment-Forming Activity and Long-Term Forecast of Number Dynamics of Beavers (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Castoridae) in the Eastern Part of the Polistovo-Lovatskaya Bog System (Novgorod Oblast)

Current State, Environment-Forming Activity and Long-Term Forecast of Number Dynamics of Beavers (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Castoridae) in the Eastern Part of the Polistovo-Lovatskaya Bog System (Novgorod Oblast)

Популяционные частоты врожденной диафрагмальной грыжи в регионах РФ по данным мониторинга врожденных пороков развития

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a severe birth defect characterized by impaired development of the diaphragm that leads to displacement of the abdominal organs into the chest with incidence from 2 to 4 per 10,000 births and its interregional differences that determine the need for assessing the regional incidence. The purpose of this research was to determine the populational CDH incidence and its dynamics in Russia regions based on the data from nationwide epidemiological monitoring of birth defects (BDs). Materials and methods used: the analysis included 2011-2022 data from a cohort study based on BDs epidemiological monitoring from 25 regional registers. In total there were 1493 BD cases among live births, stillbirths and eliminated fetuses with malformations that were included in the study with the total birth count of 5,366,657. Results: the overall CDH incidence in the 25 selected Russia regions was 2.78 per 10,000 births (95% CI 2.71-2.85) without any significant change in its dynamics over the observed period. Interregional differences in CDH incidence were revealed as follows: the maximum incidence of 4.49 (95% CI 3.92-5.06) was registered in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); the minimum of 1.23 (95% CI 0.76-1.69) was registered in the Novgorod Oblast. The gender ratio of those affected was 1.2 males per 1 female. The majority of cases (53.81%) were represented by liveborn children, the proportion of stillborns was 5.99%, the proportion of fetuses with diaphragmatic hernia (DH) was 40.2%. 68% were represented by cases of isolated DH v. 32% of a combination of ВР with another BDs among all cases. Conclusion: this study has revealed the CDH incidence rates in 25 selected Russia regions, the incidence variety between the regions with the stability of it in dynamics. Conducting such epidemiological studies is important for understanding the nationwide spread of diseases and identifying risk factors that are important for the prevention and treatment of diseases.

Social Profile of Mothers Raising Children With Disabilities: A Survey in Rural and Small-Town Russia

Like any other family, families with disabled children have their share of joys and sorrows. However, social attitudes and prejudices towards disabilities often pose more significant challenges than the child’s condition itself. Discrimination against mothers raising disabled children comes to the fore in social interactions, where the child’s disability can unfairly define the mother, subjecting her to stigmatization. The ability of parents, particularly mothers, to mobilize resources is crucial for the family’s well-being, as they often bear the primary responsibility for child care. In Russia, one in three disabled children is raised by only one parent. Social services for families with disabled children are evolving in response to families’ needs, but there is currently no unified system to verify their effectiveness. Our study was conducted in 2024 in Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod Oblasts and explored socio-psychological distress in families with disabled children. Through semi-structured interviews with 98 women whose children attend social rehabilitation institutions, we gained insights into mothers’ experiences, including their life satisfaction, access to state and social support, as well as daily stigmatization. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by women raising disabled children, highlighting areas of social disadvantage and stigma in provincial contexts.

Long-term scenario forecast for the grain production development in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast

Subject. This article examines the problem of long-term planning and the role of natural, climatic, and industrial and economic features of the region in grain production. Objectives. The article aims to develop a long-term scenario forecast for the development of grain production in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, taking into account regional agro-climatic features. Methods. For the study, I used a factor analysis, simplex method of linear programming, and linear trends construction. Results. The article offers various forecasts for grain production in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Conclusions. The developed long-term scenario forecast for the development of grain production in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast can be useful for the development of a regional strategy for the development of grain production.

The current state of the dairy cattle industry in the region

Subject. The article is devoted to dairy cattle breeding being an important industry in the agro-food complex of the country that occupies a high share in the structure of gross agricultural output. Objectives. The purpose is to analyze the development of dairy cattle breeding in the Russian Federation, the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, and Knyagininsky District. Methods. We employed economic, statistical, and mathematical research methods. Results. The study provides the analysis of dairy cattle breeding development in the Russian Federation, the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, and the Knyagininsky District, reveals the interrelation of factors influencing the development of dairy cattle breeding in the Knyagininsky District. We determined reasons for a decline in the number of animals and the growth factors of cow milk yield. The paper offers the application of State support for the development of dairy production. Conclusions. Currently, it is possible to ensure the growth of milk volumes only on the basis of innovation-oriented development of dairy cattle breeding, which includes the introduction of technical, technological, organizational, and economic innovations, optimal combination of megafarms, dairy complexes, medium and small dairy farms, an increase in the genetic potential of the dairy herd, optimization of fodder base, improvement of the system of relations between the subjects of the milk and food subcomplex of the agro-industrial complex. It is crucial to provide State support for the development of dairy cattle breeding in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

Precision agriculture in the regional system of strategic development of grain production

Subject. The article investigates strategic development of grain production, which, in the future, will increasingly rely on elements of precision agriculture. Their use enables to significantly increase the yield of grain crops due to systematic implementation of specialized digital technologies. The latter, under scarce resources, is a determinant in the long-term development of the grain industry. Objectives. The study aims to describe precision agriculture in the regional system of strategic development of grain production. Methods. I performed a comprehensive assessment of effectiveness of precision farming elements introduction by such indicators as the specific weight of the area of grain fields, the specific weight of synchronized agricultural machinery and other precision farming elements in a single digital space, and the share of covering the need for agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles and crop sensing systems. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Resources of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast data on the number of used precision farming elements served as the analytical base of the study. Results. In the Buturlinsky and Dalnekonstantinovsky municipal districts, the introduction of precision farming elements is at an average systemic level, in Arzamas urban district and Bolshemurashkinsky municipal district – at a low systemic level, and in the rest, it is unsystematical. I offered and tested indicators of comprehensive assessment of effectiveness of precision farming elements introduction. Their analysis helped form a rating of the introduction of precision farming elements in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Conclusions. Each farm should determine its own level of use of precision farming elements to generate a strategy for introduction of other elements of technology to maximize economic efficiency, including synergistic effect.

Multiyear variations of soil moisture availability in the East European Plain

This study aims to examine the impact of climate change on the water storage across the East European Plain, utilizing archived digital materials from several remote sensing satellites, including the Terra/Aqua (MODIS), the Global Precipitation Climatology Project, GRACE, and GRACE FO satellites, as well as data from digital maps of Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficients. The spatial resolution of the analyzed data ranged from 1x1 km to 250x250 km. Aiming to enhance the spatial resolution of Selyaninov coefficient maps, a new version of the Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient was suggested, leveraging satellite remote sensing data. Both visual and computer analyses of these materials reveal a consistent reduction in water storage in the southern regions of the East European Plain, accompanied by a slight increase in the Novgorod Oblast. This information suggests that the non-chernozem region of the East European Plain will play a crucial role in supplying agricultural products to the population in the next decades. The observed stable water storage in the northern part of the East European Plain, encompassing the Komi Republic and the Novgorod Oblast, hints at the potential of increased agricultural production in these areas. However, achieving sustainable growth in agricultural production in these regions necessitates a focused investment policy.

Water bodies of former peat pits as the most important nesting sites for some species of Laridae in the center of European Russia

In this paper, we analyze the role of artificial water bodies in the former peat pits as habitats for gulls and terns based on long-term monitoring data in the Nizhny Novgorod oblast (area 76.624 km2), located in the center of European Russia. 3 regional censuses of Laridae were carried out in 1985-87, 1997, and 2006-2007. The monitoring of the largest colony of gulls in the region at the IBA Sitnikovski RU-185 was carried out in 1982, 1987, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2011 and 2023. It is shown that very large colonies of many species of Laridae, representing complexes of closely located colonies, have formed on the peat pits in the Nizhny Novgorod oblast. Peat pits are the most important nesting sites for Larus ridibundus, L. canus and L. argentatus in the central part of European Russia. In the Nizhny Novgorod oblast, more than 50% of the regional population of these species nests in these habitats. Monitoring only the Sitnikovski colony allows us to judge the trends in the numbers of most species of Laridae in the Nizhny Novgorod oblast at large. Based on extrapolation of population data at Sitniki peat pits we can calculate the approximate numbers of regional breeding populations of Larus minutus, L. ridibundus, L. canus and L. argentatus.

Epidemic status in Russia’s Northwestern Federal District: tick-borne encephalitis and ixodes tick-borne borreliosis (lyme disease), 2002–2021

The study's objective was to reveal trends in tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis (ITBB) epidemic processes in Russia's Northwestern Federal District (NWFD) in 2002–2021. In the NWFD during the analyzed period, more than 1.1 million patients sought medical help following tick bites (14% of all cases registered nationwide). The long-term average tick bite incidence rate in the NWFD exceeded the nation-wide value: 409.5 and 280.7, respectively. In the NWFD, the highest long-term average tick bite incidence rates were recorded in Vologda Oblast, Pskov Oblast, and Novgorod Oblast. The tick bite incidence rate tended to grow in the NWFD, as well as nationally. The growth in tick bite incidence was statistically significant in the Republic of Komi, Kaliningrad Oblast, and Arkhangelsk Oblast. In 2002–2021, more than 6000 TBE cases were registered in the NWFD (11% of all cases registered nationwide), and the TBE long-term average incidence rate in the NWFD exceeded the national value: 2.3 and 2.0, respectively. The Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk Oblast, and Vologda Oblast were three NWFD subjects with high TBE epidemical hazard. TBE incidence in the analyzed period tended to decrease, both in the NWFD and nationwide. A statistically significant decrease in TBE incidence was revealed in St. Petersburg, in the Republic of Karelia, in Novgorod Oblast, and in Leningrad Oblast. About 22 000 ITBB cases were reported in the NWFD during the analyzed period (15% of all ITBB cases in Russia). The ITBB long-term average incidence rate in the NWFD exceeded the national value: 7.9 and 4.9, respectively. Vologda Oblast, Kaliningrad Oblast, and Pskov Oblast were three NWFD subjects with high epidemical hazard in terms of ITBB. ITBB incidence during the analyzed period tended to decrease, both in the NWFD and nationwide. The decrease in ITBB incidence was statistically significant in Vologda, Kaliningrad, Novgorod, Leningrad and Pskov Oblasts, as well as in St. Petersburg. In the Republic of Komi, in contrast to other NWFD subjects or national data, there was an uptrend in both TBE and ITBB incidence.

Methodological approach to determining the zones of strategic development of grain production

Subject. Grain production is developing under conditions of uncertainty, in view of which, its strategic development becomes vital for the agricultural sector. This should take into account the specificities of the spatial development of grain production, which in many respects are closely related to the natural and climatic, production and economic, and other conditions of economic activity. Objectives. The purpose is to formulate a methodological approach to determining the zones of strategic development of grain production in accordance with the Long-term Strategy for Russia's Grain Complex development until 2035. Methods. Due to the multi-criteria nature of grain production zoning, the necessity of using complex methods was proved during the study. My own approach combines the use of analytical alignment methods (based on a parabolic equation with subsequent calculation of the advance indicator) and the matrix method. The testing was conducted according to the data of municipalities of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Results. The application of my unique approach resulted in dividing the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast into four zones of strategic development of grain production. In each zone, I defined the pattern of development of grain crops and the sown area allocated to them. I also determined strategic measures aimed at grain output, which must be implemented in each municipality. Conclusions. If applied, the presented solution will enable a differentiated approach to strategic management of grain production at the regional level.

Completeness of regional cancer registry data in Northwest Russia 2008-2017

BackgroundA national framework for population-based cancer registration was established in Russia in the late 1990s. Data comparability and validity analyses found substantial differences across ten population-based cancer registries (PBCRs)in Northwest Russia, and only four out of ten met international standards. This study aimed to assess the completeness of the PBCR data of those registries.MethodsQualitative and quantitative methods recommended for completeness and timeliness assessment were applied to the data from ten Russian regional PBCRs in Northwest Russia, covering a population of 13 million. We used historic data methods (using several European PBCRs reference rates), mortality-to-incidence ratios (M:I) comparison, and death certificate methods to calculate the proportion of unregistered cases (Lincoln-Petersen estimator and Ajiki formula).ResultsIncidence rate trends of different cancer types were stable over time (except one region - Leningrad oblast). A slight drop in incidence rates in older age groups for several sites in the Northwestern regions was observed compared to the reference from European countries. Comparing M:I ratios against five-year survival revealed systematic differences in Leningrad oblast and Vologda oblast. Assessment of completeness revealed low or unrealistic estimates in Leningrad oblast and completeness below 90% in St. Petersburg. In other regions, the completeness was above 90%. The national annual report between 2008-2017 did not include about 10% of the cases collected later in the registry database of St. Petersburg. This difference was below 3% for Arkhangelsk oblast, Murmansk oblast, Novgorod oblast, Vologda oblast and the Republic of Karelia.ConclusionsEight out of ten regional PBCRs in Northwest Russia collected data with an acceptable degree of completeness. Mostly populated St. Petersburg and Leningrad oblast did not reach such completeness. PBCR data from several regions in Northwest Russia are suitable for epidemiological research and monitoring cancer control activities.

Applying the factor analysis to assess the development potential of the grain industry

Subject. The article explores the impact of various factors on assessment of the grain industry development and formation of its production potential in the future, using the case of agricultural agro-district of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Objectives. The purpose is to assess the resource potential of the grain industry development based on the use of factor and correlation analyses of the main components affecting the agricultural production of grain crops. Methods. The study employs general scientific (analysis and synthesis, formalization, analogy and comparison) and special (statistical, correlation, factor analysis) research methods. Results. We analyzed the production of grain crops in the context of agro-climatic zones of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast as part of municipalities of the region, performed the factorial and correlation analysis of the influence of individual parameters and conditions on grain production. The paper graphically presents the distribution of areas of the agricultural agro–district under study by two factors, i.e. the production potential of the organization and the personnel and resources to increase the volume of production in the future. Conclusions. The considered methods of analyzing factors and conditions of grain production determined a close relationship between the system-forming resources in agriculture, which are land and labor. The study defines their structural contribution to the formation of reserves for improving the efficiency of the grain industry and enhancing its potential in the future.

Features of employment in a singleindustry town on the example of Pavlovo, Nizhny Novgorod oblast

The article describes the main features of the labor market in Pavlovo, Nizhny Novgorod oblast, analyzes employment strategies of the population from different property groups. Due to its geographical location, socio-demographic structure, Pavlovo was chosen as an example of a typical small town in the European part of Russia. The article presents the results of sociological survey conducted in 2011 and 2021. The 2011 survey was carried out by the Institute of Socio-Economic Studies of Population of the FCTAS RAS (Moscow) and Lobachevsky State University of Nizhniy Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod) with participation of the universities of Glasgow (Scotland) and Uppsala (Sweden). The 2021 survey — by the Center for the Study of Social Systems, the Department of Sociology of Project Activity and Pro-Competitive Regulation of the Lobachevsky State University of Nizhniy Novgorod., the universities of Glasgow (Scotland), Uppsala (Sweden) with the support of the Scientific Information Center, Nizhny Novgorod. As a result of the cluster analysis, four social groups were identified that differ from each other in socio-economic characteristics and strategies of behavior in the labor market. The relationship between the level of education and the position on the labor market is clearly visible. In the group of affluent households, there are more people who have higher education. Higher education and qualification level allow one to occupy higher-paying positions, diversify career strategies even in a single-industry city. While in low-income families, the share of those who are employed in the industrial sector, in particular, at the city-forming enterprise, is higher. Affluent households show the greatest economic activity, while combining additional ways of earning with the main specialty. It is important to note that the lower the family income level, the less often they use the opportunities for additional earnings. People of retirement age, while maintaining an average level of economic activity and sufficient labor potential (education, skill level), are quite severely limited in employment opportunities. Factors reducing the material well-being of family are the presence of minor children, the position of a single parent, the status of a pensioner. Those living alone are also often low-income, especially women.

Ways to optimize preventive measures in areas remote from the regional center

Aim. To identify problems in the management of preventive examinations in remote areas, using the example of the Khvoininsky district of the Novgorod Oblast and ways to improve it. The article reveals the problems of managing preventive measures in the regions of the Russian Federation, remote from the regional center.Material and methods. Observations and experience of preventive measures carried out by the staff of St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University within the "University — Region" project, data from electronic medical records of 178 patients were used.Results. A high proportion of loss to follow-up was noted — 99 out of 278 (36%). The bulk was patients over 40 years old, who were assigned to health group IIIa. The difficulty of conducting medical examinations in a sparsely populated area is associated with insufficient awareness of the population, combined with low interest, a shortage of specialists, untimely necessary studies, a significant bureaucratic work, unstable Internet connection, and insufficient cancer awareness among medical workers.Conclusion. Expanding the promotion and information component of preventive measures, increasing patient focus, combining the first and second stages of clinical examination into one with subsequent convenient routing of patients, introducing telemedicine technologies and portable diagnostic complexes, improving the professional knowledge and competencies of primary care physicians — all these activities are aimed at improving coverage of population, increasing the adherence of patients with effective medical follow-up.

New information about the genealogy of the family of the architect V. I. Bazhenov

Until recently, the genealogy of the family of the great Russian architect and painter Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov (1738-1799) was little studied, full of inaccuracies and misconceptions. A little fragmentary and not always accurate information about the children and grandchildren of the architect was presented mainly in the works of Y. Y. Gerchuk and E. I. Ilizarova. However, until now, for example, the exact dates of life and burial places of members of the architect's family were unknown. The author of the present research studied church books, confession lists, archival court cases and many other archival documents and found a lot of new and previously unpublished information about the children of Vasily Bazhenov and his wife Agraphena Lukinichna (1745-1817): Konstantin (1771-1826), Vladimir (1772-1820), Olga (1773-not earlier than 1825), Vsevolod (1774-1843), Voin 1 (1776-1779), Nadezhda (1778-1857), Voin 2 (1779-1784), Mstislav (1782-1783), Vera (1784-not earlier than 1834) and Voin 3 (1785). The relevance and novelty of the study lies in the publication and systematization of many previously unknown facts from the history of V. I. Bazhenov's family, which significantly expands the understanding of the outstanding architect. The article presents the results of field survey of the Bazhenovs' burial sites in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and the Republic of Mordovia on the subject of the burials' preservation, these results are also important for necropolistics. The study provides dates of life, dates of marriages, as well as information about family, property, official status, family composition, places of residence, burial, etc., which allowed to reconstruct the genealogical picture of the family of the architect V. I. Bazhenov and his offsprings quite completely.

Retrospective and modern bases of labor resources assessment in the production potential of the economic system

Subject. The article is devoted to building a system of qualitative and effective assessment of labor resources to support the economic system of the State or region. Objectives. The purpose is to assess labor resources in the production potential of the economic system. Methods. The study employs general scientific research methods. Results. For general assessment of labor resources in the production potential of the economic system, indicators reflecting the quantity, quality and efficiency of labor potential are integrated into a single evaluation algorithm based on the use of a point system. The paper presents the calculations of the integrated indicator for the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Conclusions. By applying the point system to evaluate individual indicators characterizing one of the three areas of labor resources assessment, as well as the weighting values of indicators, I developed an algorithm for calculating one indicator. It can be used to determine the potential and efficiency of manpower utilization of the economic system, region, and country as a whole.

Оценка и моделирование пространственных взаимовлияний в развитии кадрового потенциала научно-исследовательской деятельности регионов России

The current spatial heterogeneity of the localisation of research personnel and mutual spatial influences between the main centres of its concentration and neighbouring regions in Central Russia, according to the hypothesis, lead to its further growth in these centres. The present paper assessed the localisation of research personnel using spatial autocorrelation analysis. The spatial interactions between regions were analysed by the method of Anselin, considering various systems for measuring distances. The Granger test was applied to confirm the presence of the established interactions. Additionally, the study built regression models of interregional spatial interactions, assessed the concentration of factors for the development of research personnel in Russian regions and examined relevant efficiency indicators. As a result, the following mutual spatial influences in Russia were determined: between Moscow city and Saint Petersburg, Tver, Bryansk and Vladimir oblasts; between Moscow and Ivanovo, Vladimir, Oryol oblasts and the Chuvash Republic; between Nizhny Novgorod and Tula oblasts; between Saint Petersburg and Tambov, Bryansk, Vladimir, Smolensk and Yaroslavl oblasts. Spatial interactions between the regions of the Ural, Volga and Siberian districts were not identified. This result, along with the increasing dynamics of the concentration of research and development human resources in the central regions, contributes to the deepening of spatial heterogeneity of research personnel in Russia. About 65% of all research personnel in Russia are located in 22 regions, and only 4 regions (cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts) have spatial interactions with the neighbouring regions. 60.5% of research and development human resources are concentrated there. The findings can be used to develop mechanisms for reducing the spatial heterogeneity of the development of research personnel in Russia.

ЦВЕТЫ ЛИПОВКИ: АРДАТОВСКАЯ ФОЛЕЖНАЯ ИКОНА СОВЕТСКОГО ВРЕМЕНИ

The article is about the tradition of creating handmade icons with foil rizas in the village Lipovka, located in the Ardatovsky district in the south-west of the Nizhny Novgorod region. The focus is on the genesis of the “flower tradition” of decorating Ardatov icons and on its comparison with other artistic styles in the Nizhny Novgorod Southwest. Also, they study the memories of local residents about Raisa Vasilyevna Serova the craftswoman icon-painter from the village of Lipovka. Cultural and historical origins of the Ardatov tradition of decorative and applied crafts. A hypothesis has been put forward about the presence of the Mordovian ritual substrate in the traditions of decorating foil icons in 20th century. To substantiate it, data from the more eastern districts of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (Diveyevsky and Pervomaisky), as well as from the Republic of Mordovia are presented. According to these data the same practices of decorations with bright paper flowers were preserved in relation to pre-Christian ritual artifacts in the wedding rites of the local Mordva-Erzya (wreaths and ceremonial pies) until the end of the 20th century It is assumed that such more archaic ritual practices of the Mordva could be transferred to Christian ritual artifacts after they adopted Christianity in the 18th century. The authors describe the artistic techniques of the Ardatov icon tradition, characterize the artistic manner of a craftswoman from the Ardatov village of Lipovka and describe the religious landscape of that village during the Soviet era.

Inclusive culture in the aspect of realizing the rehabilitation potential of subjects accompanying children with autism spectrum disorders

Introduction. Socialization of children with autism spectrum disorders is carried out through their immersion in the sociocultural space. The most important component of sociocultural integration is reliance on the rehabilitation potential of both individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their immediate environment. An analysis of understanding inclusive culture was embedded in the ideological concept of the research initiative. The study aims to determine the conceptual positions of inclusive culture as a specific system of attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to solving problems of including children with autism spectrum disorders and their immediate environment in various sociocultural spaces and relationships. Materials and methods. The study involved 307 people representing four subject groups of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of the Russian Federation: teachers/specialists of preschool educational institutions, teachers/specialists of general education organizations, parents of children with autism spectrum disorders and students receiving defectology education. The main research method was the author's questionnaire survey of respondents followed by expert assessment. Results. The obtained results reflect the variable subjective positions of respondents in relation to various aspects of inclusive culture as the basis for the inclusive potential of persons with autism spectrum disorders and their immediate environment. The differences in understanding the essence and mechanisms of inclusive culture and of its place in personal and social context among different subjects of educational space are updated. This aspect allows objectifying the problem of effective interaction between family and educational organization in disclosure and implementation of the rehabilitation potential of persons with autism spectrum disorders. More than 50% of teachers/specialists of educational organizations, as well as 70% of surveyed students and parents of children with autism spectrum disorders, differentiate the concepts of ‘culture of inclusion’ and ‘inclusive culture’, giving them different content contexts. 57% of surveyed teachers and 65% of parents consider persons with disabilities to be objects of inclusive culture, i.e. they are assigned a more passive role as a consumer of this very culture specially formed for them. Conclusion. The results obtained allow determining the main directions of educational, advisory and psychocorrectional work aimed at increasing psychological and pedagogical competence of specialists and parents who accompany children with autism spectrum disorders. Subjective expectations and ideas of respondents about the indicators and criteria of psychological culture, inclusion and features of interaction between society and people with disabilities act as a guideline for strategic planning of comprehensive support for families raising children with autism spectrum disorders