Social Development Skills (SDS)
Social Development Skills is a special education service designed for students who have significant social and behavioral needs. This program provides a highly structured environment with a low staff-to-student ratio where a variety of research-based methodologies are used to meet the needs of students. Academics, social skills, and developmentally appropriate functional skills (emphasis on prosocial and positive behavior) are addressed through intensive, explicit instruction.
SDS support includes the following:
- Staff specially-trained in behavior dysregulation techniques and strategies, teaching alternative behaviors, nonviolent crisis intervention strategies, social skills training, functional behavioral analysis, mindfulness, and sensory-based strategies
- District Behavior Specialist Support and Consultation
- Individualized instruction based on a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), to address recognizing and managing emotions, engaging in prosocial behaviors, and learning positive alternative behaviors
- Individualized inclusion support in the classroom
- Behavior Intervention Plans
- Specialized classroom design and organization
- Regular data collection and analysis to monitor progress
- Parent training and communication
- Additional supports may be implemented based on student need
SDS aims to provide the following outcomes:
- Increasing effective communication
- Decreasing and replacing challenging behaviors
- Promoting appropriate social skills through peer interaction
- Establishing Learning to Learn behaviors (self-management, small group/large group instruction skills, self-regulation)
- Developing and extending academic skills
- Maintaining and generalizing learned skills to the natural environment
- Reducing prompt dependency and fostering self-initiated behaviors
Location:
- Elementary: Bee Cave Elementary, Lakeway Elementary, Serene Hills Elementary
- Middle: Hudson Bend, Bee Cave and Lake Travis
- High School: Lake Travis High School