Background. The presence of health limitations and disabilities of students affects the structure and content of their educational needs. In some cases, these students may require special counseling in career guidance, assistance in social and psychological support in the process of acquiring education.
Aims. The purpose of this study was to analyze the educational needs of applicants with disabilities and develop recommendations to expand the accessibility of higher education for this category of youth. The research was carried out as part of the State task of the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation.
Methods and procedures. The researchers monitored the educational needs of applicants with disabilities using the survey method in the form of an online questionnaire.
Outcomes and results. The article presents the results of monitoring the educational needs of 170 Russian school graduates with disabilities and health limitations who studied in 16 comprehensive educational institutions, where students of the 11th grades were trained and who expressed a desire to participate in the monitoring. The research was carried in the assigned territory out as part of the State task, which includes 7 constituent entities of the Russian Federation: the Republic of Bashkortostan, Mari El, Tatarstan, the Udmurt and Chuvash Republics, the Orenburg and Kirov regions.
Conclusions and implications. Based on the analysis of the monitoring results, recommendations for regional and municipal authorities and educational organizations subordinate to them were developed. The recommendations are aimed at positioning ways to increase the accessibility and quality of higher education for persons with disabilities, their further employment and career growth.