Third and fourth-grade learning disabled boys were compared to low-achieving third and fourth graders (N=24) matched on sex, race, grade, classroom, and reading achievement. No significant differences were found between these two groups in terms of levels of classroom acceptance, social knowledge, and social behavior as rated by their regular…

The social maturation of adolescents with disabilities is examined in terms of early, middle, and late adolescence, and studies are reviewed on disabled adolescents' self-esteem/self concept, independence/dependence, sexuality, and social relationships with family, peers, and school. (CL)

The work group's discussion centers on seven factors affecting disabled adolescents' social development. Each of the following factors is addressed in terms of potentially important research, service, and policy initiatives: self esteem, peer groups, parenting, family, services, enforced dependency, and positive sexual socialization. (CL)

Each of the seven factors that affect adolescent social development is presented together with a description of potentially important research, service, and policy initiatives within each topic area. The factors are self-esteem, peer group, parenting, family, services, enforced dependency, and positive sexual socialization. (CT)

Social and cognitive values of different play materials for 21 normal and 21 handicapped preschool children were examined. Analyses showed that handicapped preschoolers exhibited comparable amounts of symbolic play but lower quality of symbolic play than that shown by nonhandicapped preschoolers. Symbolic play by handicapped children depended much…

An ongoing, structured, low-intensity exercise program designed to foster physical, social, and cognitive functioning was evaluated in 128 seniors ranging in age from 55 to 101 years. The program appeared to be providing an opportunity for social interaction among participants, and the exercises appeared to be mentally stimulating. (Author/CT)

Research is reviewed on the communicative ability of learning disabled (LD) adolescents and its effects on acceptance by peers. Difficulties are noted in social perception, oral language, and social experience. Suggestions for enhancing communication and social skills include using group-contingent reinforcements and exposing LD students to normal…

For a successful kindergarten experience, children need to develop certain social and learning skills before entering school. Social skills include cooperation, responsibility, perseverance, and independence. Auditory and visual discrimination and motor and language skills are important for a positive learning experience. (DF)

The importance of teaching mildly handicapped adolescents to respond appropriately in social situations is emphasized, five important considerations in selecting social skills curricula for this population are discussed, three examples of social skills projects and their products are described, and 12 specific curricula summarized. (CL)

Findings of the comparison of spatial role taking, social role taking, and referential communication in 56 congenitally visually impaired and sighted children (seven to nine years old) revealed that visually impaired Ss need not differ from sighted Ss in cognitive social functioning if they have had significant verbal interaction with others.…

Social routines based on rhyming verses combined with co-active participation with adults were developed to permit visually impaired young children with additional handicaps to associate communicative responses with attention to and action on objects. (Author/CL)

The address highlights research findings on the importance of social support on mentally retarded persons. Elements of the social support network, including peer friendships and relationships with care providers are considered. Future concerns are seen to include issues of social support that may on the surface conflict with normalization. (CL)

Authors explore some newly developed concepts about learning and discuss the influence of these concepts on current investigations of cognitive development in children. (HS)

The problems examined in this study were (1) age differences in grasp of psychological causality during middle childhood, (2) the exploration of possible mediating abilities of a physical-logical nature accounting for such age differences and (3) relations between cognition of psychological causality and intentionality in moral judgment.…

The case of Africa, in terms of development and democratic prospects, encounters a number of stubborn hurdles, and are increasingly more difficult to overcome. This paper, while agreeing with a number of leading Africanists, who are calling for the efficient repair of Africa's political systems, without which other components of the national and…