The paper reviews the interpersonal social difficulties of learning disabled students, discusses possible reasons for the lack of social skills instruction to this population, and addresses the need to teach them social skills. (CL)

This paper synthesizes the findings of social skills interventions conducted with 3- to 5-year-old children with disabilities between 1975 and 1999. Provided are study purposes, procedures, measures, and findings as well as analysis of effect size outcomes. Positive outcomes were associated with a range of interventions, including modeling,…

Interpersonal problem solving (IPS) is often difficult for learning disabled students. Two model IPS interventions, an elementary and a secondary, are described. Key components in both models include alternative and consequential thinking, skills implementation, and a "stop and think" approach to problem resolution. (Author/DB)

Previous research studies examining the effects of reading interventions on social outcomes for five- to twelve-year-old students with reading difficulties are synthesized. Twenty-seven studies published between 1975 and 2002 met criteria for inclusion in this synthesis. Small, positive effects for several social outcomes are summarized. Reading…

This article focuses on interpersonal problem solving as a way of enhancing the social competence of young children. While many children acquire strategies for interacting positively with others and need no specific intervention, some children have difficulty in acquiring or displaying successful interpersonal problem solving skills. When children…

Ten learning-disabled elementary students experiencing peer rejection participated in a 20-week intervention with a contextualist training model. Five of the 10 students' social status was classified as unrejected at the postintervention measure, and there were significant increases in positive peer nominations for males at posttest and 6-month…

This study sought to determine differences in expressed attitudes of social alienation between 20 learning-disabled (LD) school completers and 17 LD school dropouts. Results indicated that dropouts felt more socially alienated toward classmates and teachers than school completers did. Risk models for LD school dropouts should include social…

The effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral interpersonal problem solving (IPS) training program was evaluated with 35 poorly accepted second, third, and fourth graders. Group 1 received instruction in IPS and included only Ss low in peer acceptance; group 2 consisted of Ss low in peer acceptance who participated in IPS with same sex and grade Ss…

This synthesis reviewed the findings of 13 intervention studies, published between 1975-1999, that examined the effects of manipulation of toys or group composition on social behaviors of children (ages 3-5) with disabilities. Positive outcomes were associated with children's playing with social toys and playgroups that included typical children.…

Social competence of 239 students with and without learning disabilities (LD) was followed from kindergarten through fifth grade. Students with LD demonstrated the same trends in social competence as non-LD students. Students with LD differed significantly from average-high-achieving non-LD students on social skills and behavior problems, but not…

This study of three groups of students from kindergarten through third grade found that students with learning disabilities or with low achievement did not differ significantly on social skills or behavior problems over time, though both groups demonstrated more behavior problems and lower social skills than the average/high achievement students.…

This article reviews research on the social functioning of students with learning disabilities (LD) and draws implications for the inclusion of students with LD in regular education classrooms. Social skills, self-concept, friendships, and social networks are addressed. It argues that the social dimensions of placement decisions for these students…

The social functioning of primary grade students identified as learning disabled (LD; n=16), low achieving (LA; n=27), or average/high achieving (AHA; n=21) was assessed at the beginning and end of the school year. Students with LD were less well liked, more frequently rejected, and had lower academic self-concept scores. However, LD students…

Teacher ratings of the social skills of 98 preschool children with learning disabilities, mild mental retardation, or normal achievement on the Adaptive Social Behavior Inventory indicated significant group differences on the express, comply, and prosocial factors, but not on the disrupt factor. (Author/JDD)

This longitudinal study followed the social development of 239 students (including 10 students with learning disabilities) from kindergarten through fifth grade. Repeated measurements of peer acceptance, reciprocal friendship, self-concept, and social skills found a substantial amount of instability in social competence components for the students…