KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

An international conference entitled “Education of Deaf-blind People: Experience, Challenges and Perspectives” was held recently at the Institute of Correctional Pedagogy of the Russian Academy of Education. 

The conference was also attended by representatives of Armenian State Pedagogical University Professor Robert Azaryan, Doctor of Pedagogy, Head of the Department of Special Pedagogy and Psychology, and Tereza Azatyan, Vice-Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Faculty of Special Education. They both delivered reports at the conference. 

Speaking about the problems of classification of multiple and complex developmental disorders Robert Azaryan stressed that Armenia lacks preschool institutions for children with complex disorders. In addition, there is confusion over the term and its definition even in the special literature.

Talking to Aspu.am, the professor said the conference was a successful experience and a good opportunity for participants from different countries to deepen not only their theoretical knowledge but also acquire practical skills.

 He added that the skills he had acquired during the conference will be used at the Faculty of Special Education. 

In her report, Tereza Azatyan dwelt on pedagogical approaches to home education of children with multiple disabilities. She stressed that due to the lack of preschool institutions in Armenia these children are usually educated by their parents who do not master peculiarities of psychophysical development and corresponding methods.