Friday, October 6, 2017

October 2017

This month’s unit is titled “My Community.” The unit provides lessons and activities that address the importance of being an active participant within the community by addressing topics including community resources, community rules and positive citizenship skills. As we assist our young adults in the transition from school to work, it is necessary that they receive exposure to community living skills. In this unit, young adults will be provided with the tools needed to learn about the community so that they can become active and informed citizens.

The unit stories help young adults learn the importance of being an active part of the community. In the first story, a young man utilizes his wheelchair and communication device to independently run errands within the community. By staying organized and planning ahead, he is able to complete his errands in one trip. In the second story, a young girl who communicates in her own way, makes choices as she shops with her mother. She enjoys the satisfaction that comes as a result of being a valued member of her community. Three articles offer additional information and opportunities to learn about the community by exploring transportation options, the characteristics of a good citizen and important places within the community.

Regular monthly lessons offer the opportunity to practice community living skills using various daily living scenarios. Banking and budgeting lessons explore the concept of wants versus needs. In these lessons, the importance of budgeting for needs before spending money on wants is stressed. Daily living skills are addressed within the monthly cooking lesson. The cooking lesson offers five recipes in which young adults can express their opinions on various kitchen skills, recipes and food choices that are introduced. The daily social trivia lesson stresses social skill development by, offering team members the opportunity to apply their understanding of community living skills to real-life social scenarios.

Employment continues to be a regular focus for several lessons each month. Lessons include exploring different jobs, reading job ads, completing job applications and practicing interview skills. Simple, realistic scenarios address job skills and interactions at work.

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