Improving Gross Motor Skills in Students with Learning Disabilities Using a Multisensory Therapy Approach

Abstract

One of the treatments that is consistently used with students who have learning difficulties is multisensory therapy. The treatment also can be used for Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, intellectual development delay students. Multisensory is a term used to describe a strategy that uses all five senses: sight, sound, touch, movement, and textiles (touch). This therapy is a form of treatment intended to assist kids to improve their fine and gross motor skills, self-awareness, playfulness, psychosocial development, cognitive abilities, and fundamental ideas. The therapy is useful in preparing students' learning readiness especially for students with special needs learning issues (SLD). The goal of this best practice is to determine how effective multisensory therapy is in improving students' gross motor skills, which involve large body muscles such as limbs, legs, or the entire body and allow for functions such as walking, jumping, and so on. In 2022, the target group for the implementation of this practice is 5 MBPK students from Permata Adnin class in Jasin district. Checklists and observations were used to collect data. The results of the practice obtained later will show the benefits of multisensory therapy in improving MBPK's gross motor skills and can help teachers in making interventions to master students' potential.