This article provides a framework for social skills homework in special education; an example of a social skills assignment; and a continuum for the involvement of parents, teachers, peers, and others in the homework process. Practicing social skills in natural settings is felt to assist in generalization and maintenance. (JDD)

The Groningen Social Disabilities Schedule for the assessment of social dysfunctioning of psychiatric patients is described. The measure is based on social role theory and the hierarchy in social disabilities as well as compatibility with the International Classification of Impairments. The semistructured measure allows for posing supplementary…

Most college fundraising volunteers are uncomfortable asking for money. A training technique designed to help volunteers overcome these fears takes three hours and addresses attitudes about money and requesting it, good and bad solicitation, and the elements of effective solicitation. A program schedule and practical exercises are offered. (MSE)

New college fundraisers are encouraged to be optimistic, act confident, ask for a specific amount, and expect a positive answer when requesting a donation. Anecdotal evidence illustrates how effective this approach can be, and how the benefits extend beyond achieving a fundraising goal to inspire others about the college. (MSE)

This study examined a system for fading teacher prompts to children who served as peers in peer-initiation interventions for young children with disabilities (n=6). Results indicated that social interaction continued at the levels found during intervention and was maintained during a short maintenance period. (Author/DB)

This paper highlights the need for effective social skills interventions for preschool children with disabilities, reviews available intervention procedures and packages, discusses factors affecting the impact of social skills interventions in early childhood special education, and reviews research efforts to increase the impact of these…

Examined relationships between maternal depression and children's self-concept, self-control, and peer relationships. Found that multiple risk factors, such as the father's mental state and parents' marital status, rather than maternal depression alone, explained much of the variability in children's social and emotional competence. (MDM)

An intervention with two nonverbal elementary students with severe/profound mental retardation involved training the students to use badges showing play activities and then implementing use of the badges in a free play situation with nondisabled age-appropriate peers. Increased use of play organizers, initiations, and sharing resulted. (DB)

The verbal and nonverbal behaviors of five children (ages seven and eight) with specific language impairments wishing to gain access into established social interactions were evaluated. Although comparative children without language impairments had no difficulty, three of the subjects were unable to gain access at all and the other two did so…

The Autism Diagnostic Interview was used to assess the difference between a group of 21 males and 21 females (ages 6-36) with autism with equivalent chronological nonverbal intelligence quotients greater than 60. Males were rated more severely autistic than females on several measures of early social development but not in other areas such as…

Attempts at being polite can fail through unwitting violation of speech act rules (SARs). Several situations illustrate the use of "please" by Japanese users of English. The question of whose SARs should apply in intercultural communication in English is addressed. (Contains 13 references.) (Author)

Examined the influence of changes in child-care teachers and changes in teacher-child relationships on children's social competence with peers. Both changes in primary teachers and changes in teacher-child relationships were associated with changes in children's social competence with peers. (Author/BB)

The Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities' definition of learning disabilities implies that the presence of social skills deficits alone suffices for diagnosis, even in the absence of academic difficulties. Overlaps between this criterion and eligibility criteria for emotional disturbance are discussed along with implications for…

Five adults with developmental disabilities were trained on six interactional skill areas using the "Sorry" game format. The study involved natural environment training, role playing, and modeling of correct responses only as an error correction procedure during training. All participants increased their use of trained behaviors during…

Tested the relationship and predictive qualities of three sets of efficacy beliefs. Results suggest that the three theoretically derived measures of relationship efficacy may help illuminate the psychological processes by which persons develop and maintain healthy and satisfying intimate relationships. (LLL)