The Light Center, College of the Redwoods

Conduct a simple search on the ‘Net using the words social skills and learning disabilities, and you will be amazed at how many articles pop up on the subject. Well-written essays, current dates, respected scholars. This availability of information indicates that the topic is of interest to many. Students with learning disabilities, and the people who interact with them, are challenged not only by the disabilities themselves but by the possible accompanying deficit in social skills development.

Beyond difficulties in academic achievement, students with LD can have problems developing social and time management skills. Learning disabilities researcher Marnell Hayes discusses several social skill problem areas for adult learners and gives examples of how these problems might manifest:

1) Perception of Facial Expression and Vocal Cues Students may not translate facial expressions of instructors or peers, nor can they always interpret vocal tones--missing cues in relation to humor, impatience, anger, and the range of vocal tones.

2) Vocal Monitoring Students may have difficulty monitoring how loudly they speak.

3) Language and Social Convention Students may not recognize everyday conversational standards such as "Hello, how are you?" and don’t know how to reply.

4) "Asking for Help" Skills Students may have trouble asking instructors for information and asking to repeat information they need to succeed.

5) Body Awareness Skills Students may not know how to carry themselves or position their bodies in ways that are socially acceptable.

6) Organizational Skills Students may not successfully organize their academic materials and have difficulty scheduling class and study time.

7) Personal Space Awareness Students with learning disabilities can have spatial discrimination problems, which can be exacerbated by possible vocal cue and social convention unawareness.

Comments or questions? mailto:trish-blair@redwoods.edu

October 4, 1999

Awareness that LD students can also suffer a variety of social skill deficits is the first step to addressing these needs, or at least to understanding why inappropriate behavior is displayed.

Educators can begin conversations in the classroom.

• How do we conduct appropriate classroom conversation?
• What are the multiple causes (both LD and non-LD) of inappropriate behavior?

How does inappropriate behavior impact the individual? The group?

Instructors and support staff can meet one-on-one with students to identify problems, introduce information, construct achievable goals, and encourage progress of students needing social skills tutoring.

Hayes, Marnell L. "Social Skills: The Bottom Line for Adult LD Success." Online. Internet. 8 Sep. 1999. Available
http://www.Idonline.org/Id_indepth/social_skills/social-1.html.

" A test of mental health is your ability to find good

in as many things as possible."

--- Ralph Waldo Emerson ---