SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR ADULTS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION IN JOB-RELATED SETTINGS

The authors discuss the rationale for social skills training for worke rs with mental retardation, definitions and behavioral standards of th ese skills, and differences in the interaction patterns between worker s with and without mental retardation Various intervention strategies were reviewed critically, and their strengths and limitations were exa mined. Based on these analyses, the following recommendations are made . Fist, trainees' environments of ultimate functioning should be consi dered and contextual variables assessed and used. Second, social valid ation should be conducted to identify the social behavior that needs t o be trained. Third, some procedures that have been found effective in other areas might be used for social skills training for persons with mental retardation in job-related settings. Fourth, active programmin g should be included in the intervention package for trainees to gener alize and maintain the acquired social skills.