The article deals with the urgent issue of systematic development of disabled children with good intellect. It substantiates the role of purposeful pedagogical assistance in the formation of research skills of disabled students, which contributes to their personal development and effective self-actualization in their future educational and professional activities. In this regard, the article presents the methodological bases and ways of implementation of research activities in ecology as one of the possible and effective ways of intellectual development of children with disabilities, formation of their research skills.