Social Skills and Fuctional Learning Groups

One of the issues that concern the parents of persons with disabilities, and those involved in special education in general, is the inability or difficulties faced by persons with mental disability to create and maintain friendships with disabled and non-disabled persons. This programme is addressed to children and adults with Down's Syndrome aged from 5 to 40 years old, who are divided into 4 age groups, and is run by volunteers. Its aim is the development of the participants' social and communication skills, knowledge and observation of the rules required for conversation, to teach respect towards our co-speaker, and establish friendships among the chlidren and adults with Down's Syndrome and the volunteers. Thus, in a playful and experiential way, they practice the skills required in their daily life, such as preparing simple meals, making desserts, using the phone, handling various emotions and managing one's free time.

The development of social skills is of vital importance for persons with Down's Syndrome. Training in functional learning skills is carried out with the use of experiential methods.