The article presents theoretical analysis of the problem of child’s non-typical development. It also shows correlation between personal de­velopment and socialization theories, as well as interrelation between the terms «social environment» and «educational environment». The article presents interpretation of individual social perception through the concept of social diagnostics of atypicality, which includes or­dinary diagnostics (social symbols) and diagnostics of social situa­tions in one’s life (social practices). Systematization of scientific ap­proaches (structural-functional, socio-cultural, eco-systematic) to the study of non-typical development of children with intellectual disabili­ties allowed to create the social model of interaction in the ordinary and educational environments. The article describes functions of the institute of special education as a necessary condition for culture re­production, social control, and social mobility as the most important factor of social democratization and humanization.