Curriculum

Curriculum

SOCIAL SKILLS: A CHECK LIST OF IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR THOSE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL

  1. Personal Communication Skills:
    1. Non-verbal Communication Skills
      1. Is aware of personal space and physical contact during conversation (with friends, strangers, etc.)
      2. Faces person during conversation (ex. body turned toward person, head up)
      3. Is aware of appropriate gestures in conversation (ex. shaking head yes or no, pointing, waving)
      4. Is aware of facial expressions
      5. Is aware of personal posture and appropriate use of hands (sit up straight with little fidgeting/rocking; keep hands away from his/her own face when speaking)
    2. Verbal Communication Skills
      1. Listens during conversation without interrupting inappropriately
      2. During conversation, responds in context and stays on topic
      3. Follows group conversations and responds in context
      4. Initiate, continue, develop, and conclude conversations with others*
      5. Is aware of own impact on others during conversations (has perception of the listener’s interest level)
      6. Speaks clearly, at the appropriate speed and volume
      7. Uses appropriate language with respect to the listener
      8. Asks relevant questions to obtain information
      9. Requests, accepts or refuses public assistance effectively
  2. Interpersonal Relationships:
    1. Sensitivity to needs of others
      1. Respects others’ property
      2. Respects others’ privacy
      3. Respects others’ wishes
      4. Recognizes and assists others in need of help
    2. Sharing:
      1. Shares possessions with others when appropriate (food, equipment, property)
      2. Shares mutual interest (discovers common ground, such as sports, music)
      3. Shares responsibilities (chores, bills)
    3. Requesting sighted assistance
      1. Recognizes when sighted assistance is necessary
      2. Recognizes the appropriateness of the assistance with respect to others needs
      3. Reciprocates the assistance if appropriate (pays for gas in exchange for carpooling)
    4. Social Courtesies
      1. Recognizes when others provide assistance and responds appropriately (“thank you”)
      2. Compliments appropriately (“This food is delicious”)
      3. Apologizes when appropriate
      4. Introductions: introduces self, introduces two or more to each other, acknowledges introduction, extends hand for handshake
      5. Possesses good telephone etiquette
      6. Answers door properly: asks who it is, opens door fully, invites the person in (if appropriate), offers a seat
    5. Recreational skills/social activities
      1. Participates in informal group activities
      2. Invites others to participate in activities
      3. Takes responsibility for planning group activities
    6. Developing friendships
      1. Making contacts with others (disabled and non-disabled)
      2. Recognition of differences among personal relationships (friends, peers, readers, teachers, drivers)
      3. Adapting behavior to particular situations/relationships
    7. Dating
      1. Recognition of mutual attraction
      2. Expressing interest in spending time together (date)
      3. Accepting or refusing an offer for a date
      4. Knowing options of payment for expenses incurred during date (sharing expenses, one individual pays, individuals alternating payment)
      5. Recognition of differences in levels of involvement
        • friends, casual dating, committed relationship
        • sexual versus non-sexual relationships
      6. Understands socially appropriate ways to demonstrate affection
  3. Miscellaneous
    1. Meets social obligations (punctuality, RSVP, phone, thank you notes, returns invitation)
    2. Acts appropriately as host, hostess, or guest
    3. Possesses good table etiquette:
      1. Helps to pass food
      2. Helps self effectively
      3. Has good eating skills

* “Independent Living-Social Competence” by the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired