Problems of children with disability with the makings of mathematical talents: research results, interpretations and conclusions

Authors

  • Edyta Gruszczyk-Kolczyńska
  • Zuzanna Jastrzębska-Krajewska

Keywords:

special giftedness, makings of mathematical talents, children with disability

Abstract

This article contains the results of the first research carried out in Poland, the aim of which was to estimate the number of children with a diagnosis of disability, with the makings of mathematical talents. This was inspired by the analysis of the lives and scientific achievements of outstanding scientists who – according to the current criteria – would be classified as disabled. The development and implementation of the research program was based on the scientific findings and the results of the research carried out in the project Recognition and support for the develop¬ment of aptitude for learning mathematics in older preschoolers and young students (R 17 006 03) financed from the funds for science in 2007–2010. Therefore, after presenting more important arguments in favor of the need to estimate the number of disabled children with mathematical talents, the following sections were separated in this article: knowledge about the shaping of the makings of mathematical talents of Polish children, namely: (a) terminological findings, (b) research results showing that more than half of the children manifest mathematical talents between preschool and school education, among them every fourth child has the makings of high talents (c) explaining why in the following years of school education fewer and fewer students show their unique mental abilities in school mathematics activities; results of research on the makings of mathematical talents in children with a diagnosis of disability attending selected kindergartens with integration classes, including: (a) assumptions adopted in these studies, (b) discussion of the procedures and research methods used, (c) description of the actual possibilities of using mathematical education by children with the diagnosis of disability, (d) the results of the research, in which it was estimated that every third child with such a diagnosis has the makings of mathematical talents with the characteristics of their functioning in mathematical activities; conclusions from the research including: (a) an explanation why it is so difficult to help children with disability in developing the makings of mathematical talents, (b) the formulation of actions that should be taken to change the educational situation of disabled children with the makings of mathematical talents for the better, (c) a list of social benefits and economic issues that the proposed changes will bring.

Published

2021-09-30

Issue

Section

Articles