1. Socialization and Self Esteem

2. Overview
Much of society view students with disabilities as “socially incompetent based on behaviors”
Such views lead to diminished self-esteem
Social skills are crucial to the success of inclusion and need to be taught in the school setting with same-age peers

3. Outline
Socialization
Self Esteem
Peer Relationships

4. Socialization Challenging Behaviors
Recognize their purpose
Escape from an undesirable or difficult task
Avoidance of non-reinforcing activities or events
Need for more sensory stimulation
Desire for something that the student has no words or way to communicate

5. Socialization Skills and Behaviors
Elementary School
Basics of social interaction
Sharing
Environment

6. Socialization Skills and Behaviors
Middle School
Pressure to be like the group
Knowing how and when to resist peer pressure

7. Socialization Skills and Behaviors
High School
Preparation for real world, work or college
Self-advocacy skills
Workplace social skills
Ability to solve social problems and make social decisions

8. Tips for Teaching Social Skills
Ask previous teachers for effective techniques
Expose students with social skills deficits to other students who demonstrate the appropriate behaviors (mentors)
Establish consequences for appropriate and inappropriate behaviors
Seek input from the student about his or her strengths, weaknesses and goals
Reward more than you punish to build student self- esteem
Ask others (students and staff) to be friendly to students who have social skills deficits
Be patient

9. Instructional Strategies for Social Skills
Direct Instruction
Review, state objectives, present new material, provide practice and feedback, provide independent practice and review
Modeling
Behavioral Reversal with Coaching (practice of skills)
Role-play
Cognitive Strategies (self-talk)
Peer Tutoring
Community Based Instruction

10. Examples of Social Skills Goal
Elementary
Friendship Making
Goal: The student will introduce himself appropriately
Objective: State the occasions when it is appropriate to introduce oneself
Objective: Say “Hello, my name is John,” and extend hand for a handshake to three new people at school or in the community

11. Ideas for Social Skills Activities
Read The Way I Feel
by Janan Cain
Faces Show Feelings
Role-play situations
Show facial expressions

12. Discussion
Share an example you have had with a student demonstrating a lack of knowledge or experience regarding a certain social skill.

13. Self-Esteem
Little success in academics and social skills can lead to a poor self concept
Learned helplessness
Attribute success to luck and failure to lack of ability

14. Self-Esteem Provide student opportunities to be successful
INCLUDE strategy
Identify classroom demands
Note student strengths and needs
Check for potential successes and
Look for potential problems
Decide on adaptations

15. INCLUDE example Identify classroom demands
Math test involving solving word problems using addition
Note student strengths and needs
Strengths: Good reasoning skills
Needs: Problems mastering math facts, sums of 10-18
Check for potential successes and
Look for potential problems
Success: Student is good at solving problems
Problem: Student misses problems due to math fact errors
Decide on adaptations
Allow use of calculator

16. Self-Esteem For all people, including those with disabilities, we must
Feel connected
Feel unique
Feel empowered

17. Ideas for Self Esteem Activities
Read I Like Myself!
by Karen Beaumont
Discuss differences
Draw “Me!” and share
Circle sharing “______ is special because _____________.”

18. Discussion
Share a strategy you have used with a student, with or without a disability, who has low self-esteem

19. Peer Relationships
As many as 75% of students with disabilities experience difficulty with social interactions and relationships

20. Peer Relationships Teaching socialization
Observe what other students do (and do not do) in situations
Compare this with what the target student does in similar situations
Identify the discrepancies
Teach the missing skills

21. Peer Relationships Substance Abuse Self-Protection Sexual Abuse
Lack of knowledge increases risk
Educate
Self-Protection
Awareness
Skills
Sexual Abuse
Communicate

22. Examples of Social Skills Goals
Secondary Level
Resisting Peer Pressure
Goal: The student will resist peer pressure
Objective: Generate a list of reasons she should not skip school and keep them in her purse
Objective: Use some of all of these reasons when responding to peer pressure

23. Discussion
Share a situation you have encountered regarding a student experiencing pressure in a peer relationship. What did or did not work?

24. Conclusion
Address, discuss, teach and practice self- esteem and social skills
Each child and situation is different, be flexible and adaptive
Teach how great it is to be unique!

25. References
Friend, M. & Bursick, W.D. (2002). Including students with special needs: A practical guide for classroom teachers. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Newberger, D.A. (1978). Situational socialization: An affective interaction component of the mainstreaming reintegration construct. The Journal of Special Education, 12(2).
Vaughn, S. et al. (Jan/Feb 2003). Social Skills interventions for young children with disabilities: A synthesis of group design studies. Remedial and Special Education 24(1),
Wehman, P. & Kregal, J. (2004). Functional curriculum for elementary, middle, and secondary age students with special needs. (2nd ed.) Austin, TX: Pro-Ed