VCU Ask Experts 2 Preparing Independent Life

January 2022
Autism Center for Excellence
Ask the Expert Q&A #2

Preparing for Independent Life
Presenters:
Staci Carr, Ph.D. &
Josh Taylor, Ph.D. Q What are the things to keep in mind or the important parts about getting
ready for independent living and transition?
VCU, Autism Center
for Excellence Independent living goes beyond housing, employment, and community engagement; it comes
back to being able to be accountable for your own well-being. Things like choice-making
and problem-solving are extremely important and are skills that we should be targeting
in elementary and pre-school. High school is absolutely the time to really begin refining
these skills. We start making choices as soon as we wake up in the morning -- whether to
press snooze or to actually get up -- but it’s critical that students are making these choices
throughout the day independently or with minimal support. If a bad choice is made, that’s
alright and it’s a learning opportunity; we learn how to deal, cope, and manage the choice
appropriately. If we make a poor choice and engage in an inappropriate behavior in high
school, we have a support system there to help, but if we engage in inappropriate behavior on
the job, it gets a little bit more challenging. Additionally, learning to problem solve really helps
a student navigate their independent life. This includes managing their medication, making
decisions about their food, clothing, job, friendships and relationships, and being able to
know what to do if something goes wrong -- if you make peanut butter toast every morning for
breakfast and there’s no peanut butter in the house, what will you do? Are you skipping work
that day, or are you going to decide to have something else to eat? Working through those
challenges and problems are a big part of being able to live independently.
Q When we talk about life skills and adaptive skills, we think about it as an either/or with academic skills. We still
have to give good instruction that’s academically focused in high school for all students. How do we do both?
Life skills and adaptive skills should be embedded throughout the school day. You make choices and you have to problem-
solve, regardless of whether you’re in a math class, PE class, or a social studies class. Instead of focusing on “I have to
teach this skill,” you simply help students practice it throughout the day, from the time they wake up to the time they go to
sleep. Of course, you’re at school most of the day, but having that support from caregivers at home as well can be useful.
Q Are there any tips for teachers who are new to incorporating life skills and adaptive skills
to prepare students for transitioning to independent living?
Virginia Commonwealth
University’s Autism Center Fading the adult support as soon as possible is very important for students. When we think about
for Excellence (VCU-ACE)
is funded by the Virginia De- independence, we think about freedom, advocating for ourselves, and being able to do things on our own.
partment of Education, contract
#881-APE61172-H027A200107.
This means that our students need to be taught how to navigate their own environment and how to make
VCU is an equal opportunity/
affirmative action institution provid-
choices about how things affect them, their meals, housing, jobs, and so on. Providing these opportunities
ing access to education and employ- throughout the student’s day is critical.
ment without regard to age, race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, sexual
orientation, veteran’s status, political affil-
ation, or disability. If special accommoda-
tions are needed, please contact Carol
Schall at (804) 828-1851 VOICE or (804) This Q&A has been taken from “Ask the Expert Series” which are short videos that discuss important
828-2494 TTY.
topics for parents, educators, community members, and individuals with ASD and can be found on the
VCU-ACE website: https://vcuautismcenter.org/resources/asktheexpert/

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January 2022

Autism Center for Excellence

Ask the Expert Q&A #2

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