Definition:

The ultimate question to be asked about any program for students with disabilities is whether it prepares them to live independently in the community. These skills, the skills needed to live in a home (apartment, house, room in a boarding house) independently, are of primary importance. If a student can't independently brush his or her teeth, prepare a favorite meal, or get to work on public transportation, then it is of little importance whether they have read MacBeth or can solve a quadratic equation.

In fact, without a strong set of life skills, we could ask serious questions about the social validity of the educational program we have created for our students in their IEP's.

What a "Life Skills" Curriculum Should Enclude:

Self Care Skills should include:

1. Bathing and washing: students should be able to wash their own hands and faces, shower and apply (as adults) appropriate products such as deodorant or hair gel, independently.
2. Grooming: A child should know how and be able to brush their teeth and comb their hair.
3. Self Feeding: Even a child with serious motor or coordination difficulties should be give the means, even mechanically, of feeding him or herself without having it mediated by another person.
4. Self Dressing: As with self-feeding, a child with disabilities should be able to put on and fasten clothing, as well as chose age and weather appropriate clothing for themselves.

Skills for Independent Living: These skills should include, for young adults:

1. Cooking: a young adult should be able to prepare some simple meals, such as sandwiches, microwaveable meals, popcorn, pancakes, etc.

1. Laundry: If a young adult is going to live independently, they need to be able to care for their clothing.
2. Public Transportation: a young adult should know how to access and ride public transportation to get to desired locations.
3. Using Money, especially counting coins.
4. Budgeting:  how to keep enough to handle utilities and other ongoing expenses.
5. Pre-vocational skills: Young adults need to know how to get up for work, get to work and follow directions given by a superior.

 

Also Known As: functional skills

Examples: Adrienne was learning to cook simple meals in her high school special education program, because being able to prepare your own food is a critical life skill that Adrienne needs before she can move into the subsidized independent living community in town.