Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Advanced Research in Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Strength-Based Approach for Children with Special Needs
Eunice Meng Yin Tan
ABSTRACT:
This study examines special education teachers’ perception of the benefits of implementing a strength-based approach in Singapore’s special schools. It examines if students in special schools have strengths, abilities, and talents that are valued and addressed in the current Singapore education system. Findings from this study would enable a comparison of the current approach and method of working with a child with special needs in Singapore with a strength-based approach. The current approach to special education in Singapore schools is said to be deficit driven. Most special schools in Singapore are focused narrowly on the child’s special education needs (medical model), rather than the development of the child. Many teachers of students with special needs tend to focus on their students’ deficits rather than on their strengths. A strength-based approach in special education, on the other hand, focuses on students’ positive qualities and contributions instead of the skills and abilities they may not have. Two key objectives drive this study. The first objective is to examine the perceptions of the special education teachers with regards to implementing a strength-based approach in the schools. The second objective of this study is to investigate to what extent schools have elements of a strength-based approach in their current curriculum and the challenges as well as benefits to such an implementation.
keywords: teachers; student; school; curriculum; perception