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this area have more in common with their peers while growing up
and have a greater number of living options as adults. When
students acquire these skills, they are better prepared to contribute
to families, engage with peers, and make decisions about (and
meet) their own needs.
Social interaction skills, recreation and leisure skills, and
self-determination skills are all closely related and build on one
another. Students who have the ability to make and maintain
friendships are more likely to be engaged with peers in age-
appropriate recreation and leisure activities, which are known to
develop self-determination skills (McGuire & McDonnell, 2008), or
those abilities that facilitate one's understanding of self, one's
needs, and the advocacy strategies to set and achieve personal
goals and to solve problems. The reverse is also true; students who
are engaged in recreation and leisure activities are more likely to
have age-appropriate social and self-determination skills (McGuire
& McDonnell, 2008). Being able to occupy one's time, appropriately
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