Making Friends and Developing Social Skills

Friendships are very important to children and youth who are deaf-blind, just as they are for any individual.

They "support self-esteem, mental health, and social competence," and help minimize loneliness and social isolation. Developing and sustaining friendships, however, can be challenging. Potential friends may not be sure what the child who is deaf-blind has to offer to a relationship or may prefer to spend time with others with whom they can interact more easily. (Hartshorne & Schmittel, 2016, p. 446)

It is not enough to simply place children with deaf-blindness in classrooms with their nondisabled peers. In order for them to make friends, parents and teachers may need to help children find ways to interact with one another and provide support for interactions to occur. (Colorado Services to Children with Deafblindness, 2009).

Maurice Belote explains the importance of social skills for school and post-school success.

Introductory Resources

Slide Presentation
Long-Term Impact of Social Skills and Social Relationships (from OHOA Module "Social Skills and Peer Relationships")
External Resource
Facilitating Friendships and Interactions
External Resource
Educating and Including Classmates in a Mainstream Classroom Setting
External Resource
Integrating Your Child or Youth Who Is Deaf-Blind into Groups: Strategies for Families and Caregivers
External Resource
Part 2: Developing and Maintaining Community Connections and Friendships
External Resource
Building Peer Partnerships through Information Provision (see pp. 1-4)

Learn More

Social Skills for Children and Youth with Visual Impairments

Social Skills and Peer Relationships (OHOA Module)

References

Colorado Services to Children with Deafblindness. (rev. 2009). Fact Sheet: Facilitating friendships and interactions.

Hartshorne, T. S., & Schmittel, M. C. (2016). Social-emotional development in children and youth who are deafblind. American Annals of the Deaf, 161(4), 444-453.

Etmanski, Al. (2012). PLAN: Al Etmanski talks about PLAN networks.

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