DEVELOPING AN EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE TO TEACH CHILDREN WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES

The present study is aimed at developing an educational package in teaching children with cognitive disabilities, and educable children with Down syndrome in particular. To begin with, the current material for child education including illustrated books for teaching children with disabilities was thoroughly studied. Seventeen teachers working with children with disabilities in three rehabilitation centers were surveyed in order to record their opinions and experiences with the material available for teaching children with disabilities. The data was studied and utilized to prepare an educational package which was enhanced in the number and quality of illustrations in comparison with the material available and in use by the rehabilitation centers. The package was put to test in three different rehabilitation centers, treating 30 educable children with disabilities aged two-to-six, over a period of one month. A qualitative approach was employed and the results indicated that the authorities in all centers found the new material designed more efficient than that taught previously at the rehabilitation centers.