Social skills deficits and interventions for students with disabilities

General education teachers are the first line of defense when dealing with LD students, due to the fact that they are most likely the first to encounter the student. Teaching students with SLD must be thoroughly thought out and implemented in a methodical fashion.

Students must be acclimated from one setting to another. An intervention setting is not comparable to a classroom; students must be given adequate adapting time as well.

On top of adapting students from one setting to another, teachers must be willing to start social skills training at a younger age, “social skills must be taught throughout the grades with developmentally appropriate lessons (Cartledge).”

Schools offer the best places to conduct a social skills deficit intervention for a student with LD, “Schools are considered ideal for such interventions becausechildren can remain in their natural environment, which minimizes disruption to their lives (Mishna, Muskat).”

Due to the changing social make-up, teachers must also be able to “differentiate between cultural differences and behavioral deficits (Cartledge).”

Teachers must be able to use “culturally relevant” practices to ensure the behavior change that is expected from not only culturally diverse students, but every student with a social skills deficit.

“It soon became evident that students with SLD were characterized by social skills deficits surrounding the ways individuals view themselves, are viewed by others as socially competent, are viewed as effective in social interactions, and behave in social situations (Kavale, Mosert)......”

“About 75% of students with SLD manifest deficits in social skill area that differentiate them from their non SLD counterparts (Kavale, Mosert).”

“The negative influence of social skill deficits is reflected in heightened risk among adolescents and adults for school dropout, juvenile delinquency, and criminal behavior (Kavale, Forness.”

When polled, teachers answered those 8 out of 10 students with LD manifest issues of academic incompetence and less social interaction.

On top of that, 8 out of 10 students also appear to be socially rejected by their NLD peers. This finding showcase why students with LD may be socially less interactive than NLD peers.

7 out of 10 NLD students would not consider an LD student their friend.

“7 out of 10” LD students “rated themselves as possessing social skill deficits that distinguished them from their NLD counterparts (Kavale, Forness).” It is no surprise then that over 69% of LD students struggle with self-esteem and self-concept.

Here is a video of some teachers addressing the four following questions: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ubu8ut0bygx8gaf/2012-11-26%2023.40.48.mov

Works Cited

Cartledge, Gwendolyn, Ph.D. "Learning Disabilities and Social Skills: Reflections." Learning Disabilty Quarterly 28.2 (2005): 179-81. Print.

Farmer, T. W., R. Pearl, and R. M. Van Acker. "Expanding the Social Skills Deficit Framework: A Developmental Synthesis Perspective, Classroom Social Networks, and Implications for the Social Growth of Students with Disabilities." The Journal of Special Education 30.3 (1996): 232-56. Print.

Kavale, K. A., and S. R. Forness. "Social Skill Deficits and Learning Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis." Journal of Learning Disabilities 29.3 (1996): 226-37. Print.

Kavale, Kevin A., Ph.D., and Mark P. Moster, Ph.D. "Social Skills Interventions For Individuals with Learning Disabilities." Learning Disabilty Quarterly 27.1 (2004): 31-43. EBSCOhost. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.

Mishna, Faye, and Barbara Muskat. "School-Based Group Treatment for Students with Learning Disabilities: A Collaborative Approach." Children and Schools 26.3 (2004): 135-50. Print.

Vaughn, S., A.-H. Kim, C. V. Morris Sloan, M. T. Hughes, B. Elbaum, and D. Sridhar. "Social Skills Interventions for Young Children with Disabilities: A Synthesis of Group Design Studies." Remedial and Special Education 24.1 (2003): 2-15. Print.

Social skills deficits and interventions

for students with disabilities.