Using Social Skills Training for Children with Disabilities

A new report from the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the research on the effectiveness of social skills training for children with disabilities. Social skills training is a collection of practices that use a behavioral approach for teaching preschool children age-appropriate social skills and competencies, including communication, problem solving, decision making, self-management, and peer relations.

After reviewing the research evidence, the WWC found that social skills training has positive effects on social-emotional development and behavior and no discernible effects on cognition for children with disabilities in early education settings.