Life Skills Strategies for Children with Special Needs

Adaptive Feeding Equipment
Situation: 

What types of adaptive feeding equipment would allow my child to gain greater independence with her self-feeding skills?

Toilet Potty Training: Readiness Factors
Situation: 

My child has special needs and is not currently potty trained on the toilet. How will I know when they are ready to begin toilet training?

Sitting at Supper
Situation: 

My child is 5 years old and cannot sit through dinner with the family. He will jump up, come back take a few bites, if any bites at all, bang on the table, and sometimes just leave and play with his toys. We never have a peaceful family meal. Any suggestions?

Visual Cues Labeling: Dishwasher
Situation: 

I’ve tried teaching my son how to empty dishwasher. He does a good job when I talk him through it, but if I’m not standing right there, he just piles everything on the counter or puts stuff in the wrong place. I’m not sure if he is just being lazy or if he really doesn’t understand the task. How can I help him be more independent and accurate?

Visual Cues Labeling: Laundry
Situation: 

Whenever I bring a basket full of clean clothes into my son’s room and ask him to put his clothes away, he begins to yell “I can’t do this.” How can I help my son to better understand the chore and do it independently?

Mealtime Strategies
Situation: 

I often hear about children having a limited number of foods they will eat. My son is starting to have some problems during meals. Are there some things I can do before I start having eating issues?

Toilet Training: Habit Training
Situation: 

I don’t think my students are ready to be toilet trained but I’d like to begin the process. Which students might be appropriate and when do you begin to try?

Special Education Transition Using Pen Pal System
Situation: 

I’m a special education teacher and a few of my 5th grade students are getting nervous about moving to the Middle School in the fall.  We always visit the new school towards the end of the year, but I don’t think it’s enough to calm their anxiety.  Any ideas to help make the transition smoother?

School Store Social Skills
Situation: 

The students in my Life Skills class need more practice with social skills, but they always seem to clam up in those unstructured times like lunch and in between classes.  Is there something I can do to help them have more opportunities to interact?