Effectiveness of touch math provided to individuals with mental disabilities in teaching addition

Regardless of the type and degree of disability, the main purpose of special education services offered to individuals affected by disability is to adapt them to social life and ensure that they can take an active role in social life. Individuals affected by disability in social life need to be able to fulfill self-care skills, daily life skills and functional academic skills in order to exist. Addition, which is one of the basic mathematical skills within functional academic skills, is a skill that should be used effectively in solving many problems encountered in daily life. The main purpose of our study is to determine whether the point determination technique offered through play is effective in teaching addition process to individuals with mental disabilities. In the study, generalization between individuals and environments, the permanence effect and social validity of ten days and twenty days after the end of the education were examined. Three students with mental disabilities took part in the study. Multiple probe model with probe phase between subjects, one of the single-subject research designs, was used. The dependent variable of the research is that students with mental retardation learn the addition process. The independent variable of the research is the point determination technique presented through the game. Application process, by the researcher; It was organized as probe, teaching, monitoring and generalization sessions. All sessions were conducted with one-to-one instruction arrangement. As a result of the research, it is seen that the point determination technique offered through play is effective in teaching addition operations. In addition, students 'active participation is ensured in the process of studying the skill, and students' attention can be concentrated on the skill. It has been observed that the skill can be generalized to different people and environments, and it has been observed that the students enjoy performing the skill independently in their spare time.