Explores the effects of previous exposure to the Reach Out to Schools: Social Competency Program (SCP) on the middle school adjustment of sixth grade students. SCP is designed to teach children social skills to help them to communicate better, solve problems and build stronger relationships. Results show associations between program exposure and…

This case study discusses how Jon, a boy with autism, was fully included into general education classrooms in grades K-2 that implemented tenets of the "Responsive Classroom." The guiding principles of a responsive classroom approach, benefits for children with autism, and the need for collaboration among professionals are discussed.…

Explored how parents appraise their children and use information about child development in appraisal process. Utilized structured interview with 100 parents seeking well-child pediatric care. Proposes four-part model of the appraisal process based on findings that parents observe, compare, appraise, and explain the appraisals of their child's…

Sixty-seven learning-disabled (LD) adolescents attending vocational-technical schools completed a self-management training program. Results showed improvements in the problem-solving and job-related social skills of LD students who received the self-management training program compared to both LD and non-LD students who were not trained.…

The study compared 9 nonretarded autistic males and 25 of their first-degree relatives with 22 control relatives, to identify potential cognitive subclinical markers in autism and differences in emotion recognition and labeling. Subjects showed an atypical cognitive profile with above average visuospatial ability and difficulty in recognizing…

Investigated individual and interpersonal dynamics of 21 suicidal persons and their partners during suicidal person's psychiatric hospitalization following episode of suicidal behavior or serious suicidal ideation. Found dynamics of couples characterized by complementarity at level of overt individual functioning and similarity at level of covert…

Compared social-cognitive development of 40 preschoolers from constructivist and Montessori programs who were playing a board game. Analysis of interpersonal negotiating strategies and conflict management showed that children from constructivist programs were more advanced in their social cognitive competence than were children in the Montessori…

Explores imitations of prosocial actions by 5 mainstreamed handicapped and 10 nonhandicapped preschoolers. Argues that teacher education for work in mainstreamed settings needs to include attention to methods by which young children can be encouraged in prosocial behavior. (DE)

To assess script-based knowledge and performance of routine events, 20 mentally retarded adults and 20 nonretarded preschoolers were asked to sequence photographs of events. Retarded individuals were better able to sequence events depicted in familiar contexts than in novel contexts. (Author/JDD)

Examines the correlations among measures of social cognition, social competence, and naturalistic social behaviors of 23 kindergartners. Negative or aggressive comments were significantly related to performance on the test of social cognition. Rating scales completed by the teacher emerged as the most accurate gauges of observed social behaviors.…

The article briefly reviews 11 social skills training packages for use with mildly handicapped students in secondary settings. Programs are also compared in tabular form for cost, target population, social skills trained, and training approaches. (DB)

A survey administered to 212 co-workers of supported employees with mental retardation found that the co-workers' attitudes concerning supported employees' competence were not significantly affected by contact in the workplace or by the level of mental retardation. The majority of contacts between nondisabled and supported employees concentrated…

Investigated the relation between social status and discourse skills in 54 children of 43-66 months. Liked children were more inclined than disliked children to direct their initiations clearly, speak to both interaction partners, respond contingently to others, acknowledge others, and reinitiate when rejecting.(RJC)

Investigates how conflict strategies and communicator gender affect two properties of communicative competence, appropriateness and effectiveness, and how these properties are associated with interpersonal attraction. (SR)

General/special education secondary teachers (N=183) and nonhandicapped and handicapped students (N=437) were surveyed on perceptions of the importance of social skills in relating to others, relating to adults, and relating to oneself. Discussed are the survey instrument's reliability, importance ratings for skills, and levels of agreement…