Higher education for people with physical dis· abilities is particularly important for attaining self-sufficiency through effective competition in the job market. New laws have resuhed in improved educational opportunities, and many col· leges and universities have recently removed architectural barriers to students with disabilities. These changes have allowed increasing numbers of people with disabilities to attend colleges and universities (cf. Fichten, 1987). The eventual success of these students depends not only on their mastery of academic tasks but also on their interpersonal experiences. Indeed. data indicate that difficulties in adjusting to col· lege life and social isolation are among the most common problems faced by students with disabilities (Penn & Dudley, 1980). Interaction between students who do and do not have disabilities can be made difficuh by a variety of factors. These include lack of knowl· edge about appropriate behavior, anxiety, and the belief that one cannot behave effectively in the situation. Two recent studies on social skills
