The relationship between specific learning disabilities and social inclusion

Social inclusion is extremely important for all students because it contributes to the feeling of safety and equality, to the development of positive self-esteem and consequently to better learning achievements. Learning the appropriate interaction with peers and other people also aids social inclusion, since this is one of the most important aspects of the child’s development. Thus the usage of appropriate social skills is of major importance for efficient interaction in the social area. Specific learning disabilities also include deficits in the social area, which manifest in different ways, since they depend on every individual and his or her environment. These are lifelong deficits and can influence the child’s social, personal, moral and also cognitive development. Therefore it is imperative to pay attention to these deficits. Experts list various reasons for social deficits, which come up together with specific learning disabilities and make it difficult for the students to adjust and interact in various social situations. This is why students with specific learning disabilities more often feel socially excluded from the peers. They also experience loneliness and peer violence and they represent a risk group for the development of behavioural and emotional difficulties. It is important that the teachers and other experts offer their support and help to these students by creating a positive classroom atmosphere, organizing various trainings such as attribution training, self-efficiency training and social skills training, and by encouraging social-emotional learning. By recognising the deficits in the students’ social area and offering them help and support, it will be easier for the students to join the peers, gradually improve their self-image and also their learning achievements