Impressions of Soviet Psycho-Educational Service and Research in Mental Retardation

Abstract

The article reports on the outcome of the scientific mission concerning mental retardation in Soviet Union. The missionaries found out that like America, Soviet divided mental retardation into three classes that includes the idiot, imbecile and debile which corresponds to dependent, trainable and educable children. The country gives importance to the education of all children including the mentally retarded ones. Various researches were conducted to relate clinical symptoms to retardation and on teaching methods applicable to them. The Soviet government established a research institute committed to the study of handicapped children and to answer for their needs.