Teaching Leisure Social Skills to Adults with Moderate Mental Retardation: An Analysis of Acquisition,Generalization,and Maintenance

Abstract

We examined the use of a social skills problem-solving intervention to teach social leisure skills to four adults with moderate levels of mental retardation. Participants attended a local bar each week but were not independent in terms of ordering their own drinks nor did they interact with other bar patrons. The intervention produced immediate positive changes in these targeted social skills with all participants. They also generalized the use of these social skills to other bar settings. Finally, all participants maintained the skills for up to three years following the removal of the intervention. The results of this research are discussed in terms of the need to provide instructional and other forms of adaptive support in order to promote inclusion in regular life leisure activities for persons with mental retardation.