Social Skills Are the Most Distinguishing Characteristic for the Emotionally Disabled Student

Emotional disabilities core characteristic is poor social skills. Either by nature or nurture, the students that are diagnosed with emotional disabilities have a very hard time getting along with other students, teachers, and parents. The student will have a very difficult time maintaining or developing relationships with peers and adults. A teacher or a parent of a child with and emotional disability needs to find the cause of the lack of social skills and take baby steps to teach and reteach the student the skills that are mandatory for them to be successful in both the academic and public environment. Many emotionally disabled students do not graduate and a large percentage of them are incarcerated or placed in treatment centers before they are twenty one.

The way to best help these students is to get to know them. Some will not react to your initial tries, but through persistence and the building of trust, most will come around. Listen to what the student likes and dislikes. Ask questions and let them talk and talk about something they want to talk about. Starting the dialogue is up to the adult, but continuing the dialogue should always be in the hands of the student. Model proper social skills for them. In some cases, the family environment may have not taught or is aware of a certain social skill or another. Explain to the student that his or her behavior may be acceptable at home, but the same behavior is not acceptable at school. Show them the proper behavior and give them praise when you see that behavior copied.

Don Rainwater has written articles and books on teaching the oppositional defiant and emotionally disabled. Find out more by visiting http://www.dkrainwater.com