<![CDATA[Social competence is an essential aspect of the development of children with special needs (CSN) as it plays a significant role in building interpersonal relationships, communication skills, and the ability to adapt to social environments. However, the various limitations experienced by children with special needs often become obstacles to the development of their social competence. This study aims to describe the implementation of a local culture-based approach as a strategy for developing the social competence of children with special needs at SLB Nurul Yaqin. The study employed a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The research participants consisted of the principal, teachers, parents, and students. The findings revealed that the integration of Bugis local cultural values, namely sipakatau (humanizing one another), sipakalebbi (mutual respect), and sipakainge (mutual reminder), contributed to improving students' communication skills, cooperation, empathy, and social participation. Furthermore, the local culture-based approach created a more inclusive, humane, and contextual learning environment. The study concludes that local cultural values can serve as an effective strategy for supporting the development of social competence among children with special needs in special education schools.]]>
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