It is equally evident that parallel research has not been conducted with children with disabilities. Research on relationships between children with DD and their peers is patchy at best, limited in context, and non-linear in its development. The need for systematic and comprehensive investiga- tions into these relationships is even more imperative given the current emphasis on inclusion for the development of social skills and networks for these children. In order to provide a coherent basis for the further development of strategies to foster relation- ships, it is crucial that comprehensive and systematic studies be conducted to describe the social