A pilot project on education and employment for people with disabilities has been launched in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

A strategic session dedicated to education, career guidance, socialization, and employment for children with disabilities and special needs concluded at the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov. Following the work of four specialized tracks, participants developed a roadmap for 2026–2027. The project was organized by the Coordination Center for Inclusive Higher Education and the Development of Professional Opportunities for Young People at the State University of Management, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

In the sections, participants focused on creating a continuous educational and professional trajectory for children with disabilities and special needs. According to Maryana Abazova, Head of the Department of Professional Education and Science, the key goal is to make the transition between educational levels as smooth as possible.

— Participants began routing children from kindergarten. Our goal is to ensure a seamless educational trajectory right through to admission and subsequent employment. It’s important that children adapt to each transition and that the transition doesn’t become stressful for them,» Abazova commented.
Staffing Shortages and Interdepartmental Relations

One of the main issues identified across all tracks was the acute shortage of specialized professionals. According to Lyudmila Nastueva, Head of the Inclusive Education Department of the Educational Policy Department at KBSU, the staff shortage is felt not only in education but also in related fields.

«Specialists are needed across the country: defectologists, sign language interpreters, and speech therapists. Families raising children with special needs often have to turn to the private sector due to long waiting lists for government specialists. Furthermore, we need to strengthen interdepartmental cooperation. By combining the tools of each agency, we will be able to more effectively address common problems,» Nastueva noted. Information and Transportation Accessibility

Session participants identified transportation accessibility as a critical issue. The sections concluded that new projects are also needed in the media space: low public awareness of work programs and projects was a common theme across all four tracks. It was revealed that a number of programs are already being implemented in the republic, including mobile career guidance buses and employer subsidies, but many children and parents are unaware of them.

«Our colleges annually implement vocational training programs for blue-collar jobs at public expense. Unfortunately, many don’t take advantage of the opportunities that already exist in the republic, so a unified information resource is needed,» Abazova stated. She emphasized that the platform must be as accessible as possible and tailored to parents and individuals with disabilities.
First Steps and Implementation Timelines

Following the strategic session, the four developed roadmaps will be combined into a single document with clear responsibilities and deadlines. The next step is to agree on deadlines and responsibilities and adopt regulatory documents. Maryana Abazova added that the roadmap should be completed by the end of March, and the initial results are expected to be discussed in June. Furthermore, it is planned to actively involve not only parents but also people with disabilities themselves in further work.

In the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the federal pilot project «Developing an Educational Pathway for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Limited Health Abilities to Obtain Higher Education and Employment» is scheduled to run for two years.