COMMUNICATION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS USING SIGNALONG INDONESIA

Abstract

Communication is a process of delivering information by someone to others as a form of social interaction. The form of communication as a process of social interaction can take the form of verbal language and non verbal language. Communication of children with special needs have different characteristics among types of disability with each other. It becomes a problem when they have to interact with each other. More than a decade, researchers in the UK conducted a study to develop a communication system that could be a solution to solve the problem.In order to overcome that communication problems, people need to create a communication system with sign language that is  easier to use by all children with special needs.In 1992 researchers in the UK have been developing a Signalong communication system which is a model of sign language communication for children with special needs. Signalong communication system has been implemented and proved to have a high level of effectiveness. This communication system model adopted to the conditions and culture of Indonesia. After going through the stages of development, the result of adaptation of Signalong communication system is called Signalong Indonesia. Adapted Signalong Indonesia aims to be implemented and improve the quality of education services for children with special needs in Indonesia.

Keywords: Communication, Signalong Indonesia, Children with Special Needs