Abstract
In South Africa, selective mutism is an under-researched field, yet it is a very real challenge that teachers face. Selective mutism and the embodiment of learners with selective mutism remain relatively neglected within the South African education system as there is not enough knowledge to support learners within an inclusive classroom. Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder that is signified by the inability of learners to verbally communicate in certain social settings, like school. This can hinder the learner's academic progress since a learner with selective mutism is unable to verbally communicate and therefore unable to meaningfully engage with the teachers in the classroom. According to the South African Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support Policy developed by the Department of Education (2014), learners with barriers to learning, such as learners with selective mutism, require additional support in the classroom, as well as programs that provide curriculum and assessment adjustments, training that address the requirements, availability of specialised staff and Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) as well as assistive devices, among others, to ensure access to education for all learners...
M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)