Curriculum Strategies for Teaching Social Skills to the Disabled

This social skills curriculum has been developed as a guide to assist instructing disabled individuals in determining what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are not acceptable in our society. It is also designed to assist individuals working in community agencies with responsibilities for working with disabled individuals. Parents and other family members will find the strategies useful for follow-up activities from the school. Socialization skills which are assessed as necessary for disabled individuals to function successfully in society are highlighted. Social skills outlined in the text stress strategies needed to: (1) show respect for the rights and privacy of others; (2) learn how to handle anger; (3) learn how to act in public places; (4) demonstrate ability to show good sportsmanship; (5) take responsibility for one's actions; (6) encourage self-control; (7) present alternatives to using profanity; (8) learn how and when to apologize; (9) present alternatives to telling lies; and (10) deal with individuals who hit or threaten others. This book is written with this point of view in mind. It presumes that a basic understanding of instructional methods and procedures have been attained, and it provides a framework for innovative educators to extrapolate additional methods and procedures for teaching appropriate social and interpersonal skills to disabled individuals.