Teaching daily living skills to special needs students often involves helping them develop their social skills. Many people with autism, intellectual disability and similar conditions struggle to navigate social situations. Mastering these skills is a way for them to take control over their own lives, build new relationships, and improve their confidence.
Why some adults with disabilities find social skills difficult
For many people, social skills are something that they find intuitive, or that they learn almost by osmosis through their childhood without any specific instruction. For other people, particularly for those with conditions such as autism and intellectual disability, it is much harder. They may not understand the dynamics of different social situations, or how to adjust their behavior accordingly. They may struggle to interpret social cues, read body language, or distinguish between literal and figurative speech. This can be exacerbated by difficulties with communication, particularly if they are non-verbal, as well as trouble with sensory processing and self-regulation. Neurotypical people may not know how to respond to or accommodate people with disabilities, further aggravating the situation.
The importance of teaching social skills for adults with disabilities
This difficulty with social interaction can have a significant impact on someone’s quality of life. It means it is harder to form or maintain relationships, the isolating effect of which can have negative repercussions for mental health. It can also make it much harder to succeed in situations where teamwork is expected, such as many professional environments. If a person with disabilities wants to live more independently, it can interfere with their ability to participate in the community.
What is social skills training?
Social skills training is just one part of teaching daily living skills to special needs students, but it is a significant part. Regular contact with staff and other students is an opportunity to become more comfortable and familiar with interacting with other people. Role play can be used to practice appropriate behavior in a variety of different social situations. Students can learn new coping mechanisms to help with sensory processing and self-regulation, so they do not become overwhelmed when facing new people and environments. Assistive technology can be used to help with communication and self-expression.
What are its benefits?
When people with disabilities have the opportunity to practice and become more comfortable with social interaction, they become better prepared for the variety of social situations they may encounter. Even when the circumstances do not exactly match their previous experiences, they will have the skills needed to navigate an unfamiliar set of social expectations.
They will also have more confidence in their abilities, which will encourage them to pursue new challenges even if these involve interacting with unknown people and environments. This will empower them to advocate for themselves and ask for accommodations when necessary, which will make it easier to live independently, whether using public transport, going to the shops or being successful in the workplace. It may also lead to stronger, healthier friendships and romantic relationships, with all the benefits these bring.
It is difficult to exist in the modern world without interacting with people. Adults need to navigate a range of different social situations every day if they want to be happy and successful. That is why it is so important that social skills for adults with disabilities are taught and practiced in programs promoting life skills and independent living.
