Social and communication skills are reciprocal; improving one triggers the development of the other. In this new text, you'll explore the complex connection between social and communication skills and learn to apply the latest research on planning social-communication interventions for children with developmental disabilities. Expert contributors investigate the research on social and communication development and the empirical support for a range of innovative approaches to assessment and intervention across four age groups - from birth to adolescence. Companion chapters bring to life these creative research-based strategies with practical case studies. Assessment and intervention techniques you'll uncover include "notice and nurture" scaffolding approaches for infants and toddlers steps to promoting child-child social interactions for preschoolers naturalistic teaching approaches and peer network strategies for school-age children tactics for improving the quality of social relationships for adolescents The case studies address children with: autism cerebral palsy communication delays challenging behavior mental retardation hearing impairment and more