Abstract

COSTA, Terezinha Pavanello Godoy  and  COSTA, Mateus Pavanello Godoy. Psychological group care for young adults with special needs. Rev. SPAGESP [online]. 2008, vol.9, n.1, pp. 33-38. ISSN 1677-2970.

The present study aimed at assessing the social abilities repertoire of a group of young adults with special needs inserted in the work market. Eight young adults with special needs (mental handicap) took part in this research, all males, varying between 16 and 21 years old, being pupils at a Special Education Center, and working under a regimen contract within a company. The participants have had weekly group sessions at an university psychological clinic. The social abilities repertoire of the participants was evaluated through two observational sessions and individual interviews with each participant. It was applied the Auto-Informe de Asserção table adapted for this study. The collected data served as the basis for the beginning of the social abilities training. Twenty six sessions of training have been carried through involving practical experiences for the social abilities repertoire expansion and behavioral and cognitive techniques. The results demonstrate the occurrence of social abilities repertoire expansion of young adults with special needs and the improvement of their social skills and their own interpersonal relationships as a consequence.

Keywords : Special needs; Social abilities; Work market.

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