Self-Management and Social Skills Training for Persons With Developmental Disabilities: Tools for the Rehabilitation Counselor to Facilitate Success in Community Settings: A Literature Review

People with developmental disabilities often display, deficiencies in self-management and social skills in community based settings. Difficulties with self-management and social skills tend to pose particular difficulties for performing valued adult roles. Tools from behavior therapy have the potential to assist rehabilitation counselors in their work with consumers with developmental disabilities to overcome the negative impacts of functional limitations on expressing behaviors needed for success in community-based settings. This article presents a review of the behavior therapy literature regarding self-management and social skills training techniques rehabilitation counselors can use in their work with consumers with developmental disabilities in areas including high school transition and supported employment.