Life Skills Strategies for Children with Special Needs

Easing the Move to a New Home with Visual Supports & Choice Making
Situation: 

My son has autism and recently has be removed from his father’s house to go live with his grandmother. He may experience another change soon as I am hoping to get full custody of him.   In this case, he will move in with me. I realize this amount of change is difficult, and I would like some ideas to make his next move (hopefully with me) less stressful.   In addition, the move in with me would require a trip in a plane. How can I best prepare him for upcoming changes?

Visual Recipes: A Way to Increase Participation in Cooking Classes
Situation: 

I’m a Middle School FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) teacher and I have a student with special needs in my class of 20 general education students.  She’s not disruptive, but she also doesn’t participate very much.  How can I help her get more out of my cooking classes?

Toilet Training: Developing a Toileting Routine
Situation: 

I know there must be a way to help my son with his toileting. It becomes so chaotic sometimes as he runs into the bathroom to use the toilet. He doesn’t seem to know what to do first. Do you have any ideas to help?

Positive Strategies for Picky Eaters
Situation: 

My life is a nightmare of feeding problems with my son. He will only eat potato chips or peanut butter packaged crackers. I’m worried about his health. If I offer something else and tell him he must eat it or he’ll get sick I have to deal with a full fledged tantrum! What can I do to stop this behavior?

Addressing Shoe Challenges on the Bus
Situation: 

My 5 year old takes off her socks and shoes every 10 minutes when on her bus.  There is an aide on the bus, but the shoes aren’t always put back on. What can I do about it?

Introducing New Foods
Situation: 

My son will not try any new foods. When I even ask him to just take a bite of something different he starts yelling. How can I get him to try something new?