The Nature of Interactions between Students with Severe Disabilities and Their Friends and Acquaintances without Disabilities

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Abstract
Children with severe disabilities and their friends without disabilities were compared with children with severe disabilities and their acquaintances without disabilities on a range of characteristics and their interactions were examined. The sample included 20 children with severe disabilities and 11 children without disabilities. Dyads (child with severe disabilities and his/her friend without disabilities, child with severe disabilities and his/her acquaintance without disabilities) were videotaped while playing with a variety of games during two periods of 15 min each. Considering child characteristics first, the friends and acquaintances did not differ in developmental level, language age, or functional movement. There also were no significant differences between the groups on social competence. In regards to interactions, there were several differences between the friend and acquaintance groups, but the majority of these differences were not statistically significant. The results are interpreted and implications for future research and educational programs are suggested.