A comparison of social skills in children with visual impairments, intellectual impairments and typically developing children

This study was explored the social skills of children with visual impairments, children with mental retardation, and typically developing children while comparing the results of the groups based on age, gender and educational environment variables. Study participants were a total of 169 students, between the ages of 7-12, and were selected from students who attended Elementary Schools, Educational Practice Schools, and Vocational Educational Centers in Istanbul during the school year of 2009-2010. Study results showed that the social skills of children with visual impairments were lower than their typically developing peers. Study findings also indicated that the social skills of children who attended inclusive education schools were higher than the children attended segregated schools. Study findings were discussed and implications for practice were presented.Key Words: Visual İmpairments, İntellectual İmpairments, İnclusion, Social Skills