Роль засобів масової інформації у формуванні образу осіб з особливим потребами у масовій свідомості

The article presents the results of an empirical study of the definition of the role of the media and other information resources in the process of constructing the image of a person with special needs in the mass consciousness of the residents of the Zhytomyr region. The study was conducted by the Center for Practical Psychology "ForLife" within the framework of the grant project of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration. As a result of the study, it was established that ordinary Ukrainians receive information about persons with special needs from the mass media and social networks, relatively isolated, for people who do not have constant contact with this category of persons, the most competent sources of information remain (medical workers, teachers, workers of public organization).