Abstract
<jats:p>This article examines the formation, structure, and current status of the legal framework for the socio-cultural rehabilitation of people with disabilities in Russia in the context of the development of inclusive practices in cultural institutions. The relevance of this study stems from the government's increasing focus on accessibility of the cultural environment, the transition to an inclusive model of cultural policy, and the need for regulatory support for comprehensive rehabilitation, in which cultural institutions act not as auxiliary but as fully-fledged components. The aim of this work is to systematize key regulations defining the content, forms, and mechanisms of socio-cultural rehabilitation, identify gaps, duplications, and contradictions in legal regulation, and substantiate a structured system of regulatory information necessary for cultural institution managers to develop, implement, and evaluate programs.</jats:p> <jats:p>The scientific novelty of this article lies in its presentation of the regulatory framework as a holistic, albeit internally heterogeneous, field, including documents of various levels and departmental affiliations. It identifies the stages of its evolution from a predominantly social and medical logic to the recognition of the sociocultural component of rehabilitation. It also emphasizes the specific position of cultural institutions in the system of comprehensive rehabilitation and habilitation. The materials used include a set of federal, regional, and municipal acts for the period 1990–2026. The methodological basis consists of a content analysis of regulatory documents, structural-logical, and comparative legal approaches, which allowed us to identify stable trends, areas of uncertainty, and practical risks for cultural organizations. The article concludes that regulation is dynamic yet fragmented, necessitating the systematization and harmonization of regulatory requirements, clarification of the status of cultural institutions, and the strengthening of interdepartmental coordination and methodological support. The article is addressed to the heads and specialists of cultural institutions, developers of socio-cultural rehabilitation programs, cultural management bodies, as well as researchers dealing with issues of inclusion, accessibility of the cultural environment and legal support for cultural policy.</jats:p>