We know effective social skills are fundamental to smooth relationships and interactions. We also know how to support the development of social skills in children with and without disabilities. Effective social skills programs reflect, and draw upon, the resources of a school community and respond to the needs of individual students. Social skill interventions start with accurate diagnosis and continue by allowing students to practice positive social interactions in a step-by-step, decision-by-decision fashion. Maria’s story exemplifies how an effective intervention should proceed — a team of experts, with input from parents and families, identifies a social skill deficit, chooses a strategy specific to the child and the situation, and continually monitors and evaluates the child’s progress.
Why is this important? There are many children like Maria who struggle daily to communicate and make sense of their social world. As an education community committed to the success of all students, we must help these children build the social skills they need to succeed in school and in life.