For social competency:
- Teach him what to say, how to say it, when to say certain words in appropriate situations
- Teach him to stop, look, listen and weigh alternatives in puzzling situations
- Train him to observe non-verbal cues (if he doesn’t get it, quietly and patiently explain the idea)
-
- Explain the rules of social problems and help him get all the information he needs in social situations before making any decisions to act.
- Give him plenty of outside experiences even though he does not like novel situations. Whenever there is a novel experience (a substitute teacher, a field trip, a change in schedule, etc. tell him ahead of time and discuss the strategies he will use to get through these different times)
- Use verbal rehearsal and “walk throughs” done step-by-step in anticipation of novel experiences.
- Teach self advocacy by helping him know his strengths in learning; and make sure he has all his available learning tools: calculator, computer, software that is helpful.
*Reference: Rourke, Byron P. “Treatment Programme for the Child with NLD”, November, 1994.