TEACHER’S PROBLEM IN DEVELOPING SPEAKING SKILL
FOR CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME USING APPLIED
BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS IN POTAIS SALATIGA
Gunawan Saputro 112005048
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to find out the teacher’s strategies and problems to help the speech development to children with Down syndrome using Applied Behavior Analysis method. In this qualitative study, two research questions were raised: (1) What do the teachers do to help the speech development of children with Down syndrome using Applied Behavior Analysis method? (2) What difficulties or problems do teachers face in improving the speech production of Down syndrome children using the approach? Three teachers from POTAIS (Perhimpunan Orang Tua Anak Istimewa Salatiga)
participated in this study. Two instruments were used to compile the data: observation and interview. The analysis of the data showed that there were nine ways that teachers did to develop speaking skill on children with Down syndrome using ABA. They were imitation, repeating, learning through game, learning through song/music, cognitive skill, looking at the object, reward, eye contact, and massage. The difficulties that the teachers faced were the different children’s condition in every meeting that influences the children’s concentration, the difficulty in making children with Down syndrome to produce their speech, and the limited AVA to support teaching learning process.
Key words: Applied Behavior Analysis, Down syndrome, speaking skill, teaching, and
