Social Interaction is a critical aspect of our daily lives. It offers many benefits, including improved mental health, an opportunity to enhance learning opportunities and increased physical well-being. One of the best ways to teach social skills is through modeling: Demonstrate the skills, role-play the different skills, and allow people the opportunity to be on both sides of all scenarios. Individuals with IDD often struggle to find a good class or program to help them gain the confidence they need to make friends, find a job or advocate for themselves in situations where it's needed. Some examples of social skills for adults with developmental disabilities include:
- Greeting people.
- Initiating conversation.
- Understanding the listener.
- Empathizing.
- Reading social cues.
- Previewing or thinking before speaking.
- Problem-solving.
- Apologizing.
We created this page to help individuals with IDD and their families navigate the system of care when looking for a social skills class or program.