What are Functional Skills, and How Can my Child with a Disability Benefit from Them?
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by: joann collins
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Are you concerned that your child with autism or another type of disability, is not learning academics at a grade and age level pace? Have you thought that your child may benefit from a curriculum of functional skills? Would you like to learn about a resource that can help you learn more about functional curriculum's for your child in
special education? This article will discuss functional skills, functional academics, why your child with a disability needs them, and a resource for more information.
Functional skills are defined as skills that can be used everyday, in different environments. Functional skills focus on different areas such as home (cooking, cleaning etc) family, self help skills (bathing, brushing teeth, dressing, grooming), employment, recreation, community involvement, health, and functional academics. All students with disabilities will benefit from functional skill training, to help them in their adult life. This is especially true for children with autism or an intellectual disability.
Functional academics are also important for children with disabilities, who may not be able to learn age and grade appropriate academics. Functional academics are defined as academic areas that will be used by the student for the rest of their life. For example: Reading (read signs; stop, go, mens, womens, read a recipe). Math (money, grocery shopping, making change, budget). Health (grooming, oral hygiene, plan healthy meals).
A wonderful resource to learn more about functional skills, and functional curriculum's to help children with special needs is the book entitled Functional Curriculum for Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Age Students with Special Needs. The book is Edited by Paul Wehman and John Kregal, and is a resource that you will use again and again.
Your child with a disability needs functional skills because these skills will have meaning for your child, and will help them be as independent as possible, as an adult. For example: Every child eats, and being able to cook or prepare simple foods will help them be more independent. If children learn simple household chores, these skills can be turned into job skills when they get older.
For example: My daughter Angelina, who has a severe disability, learned how to fold towels when she was in elementary school. When Angelina entered high school she had a job folding towels at the high school pool. Because Angelina already had the functional skill of folding towels, the transition to a job folding towels was pretty easy. Angelina also learned that when she worked hard folding towels, she was paid. On pay day, she was able to spend the money that she made at her job. Learning functional skills that can be turned into work is critical for all children with disabilities. They will gain pride by being able to work, and will understand the connection between work and money.
By learning what functional skills are and why they are important, will help your child as they grow into adulthood. Do not be afraid to bring up functional skill training for your child, when you are participating in IEP meetings. Your child is depending on you to help them be a happy fulfilled adult!
About the Author
JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families of children with disabilities navigate the special education system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game." The book has a lot of resources and information, to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on her book, testimonials, and a link to more free articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com.
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