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Teaching Self-Help and Independent Living Skills to Children with Autism
Teaching Self-Help and Independent Living Skills to Children with Autism
One of the most empowering things parents can do is help their child with autism develop critical self-care and independence skills for daily living. Not only do these ability areas promote self-sufficiency and confidence, but they are among the highest predictors of improved quality-of-life outcomes.
One of the most empowering things parents can do is help their child with autism develop critical self-care and independence skills for daily living. Not only do these ability areas promote self-sufficiency and confidence, but they are among the highest predictors of improved quality-of-life outcomes.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) provides a framework for systematically breaking down complex skills into manageable steps using evidence-based teaching procedures. Common self-help goals targeted include:
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) provides a framework for systematically breaking down complex skills into manageable steps using evidence-based teaching procedures. Common self-help goals targeted include:
Dressing/Grooming
Dressing/Grooming
- Putting on/removing clothes
- Putting on/removing clothes
- Bathing and hygiene routines
- Bathing and hygiene routines
- Toileting and bathroom skills
- Toileting and bathroom skills
Eating Skills
Eating Skills
- Using utensils properly
- Using utensils properly
- Staying seated during meals
- Staying seated during meals
- Making simple food items
- Making simple food items
Household Chores
Household Chores
- Cleaning up after self
- Cleaning up after self
- Doing laundry
- Doing laundry
- Clearing the table
- Clearing the table
Safety Skills
Safety Skills
- Pedestrian safety
- Pedestrian safety
- Answering the door/phone
- Answering the door/phone
- Seeking help when needed
- Seeking help when needed
The Path to Independence
The Path to Independence
ABA utilizes specific techniques like task analysis, prompting, reinforcement, and video modeling to shape success with these skills. Task analysis involves breaking down multi-step skills into individual components that are taught sequentially through repeated practice.
ABA utilizes specific techniques like task analysis, prompting, reinforcement, and video modeling to shape success with these skills. Task analysis involves breaking down multi-step skills into individual components that are taught sequentially through repeated practice.
Prompting and prompt-fading procedures provide the "hints" needed at first to learn the skill, gradually removing those supports as the child becomes more independent. Consistent reinforcement is key to rewarding efforts and making the process motivating.
Prompting and prompt-fading procedures provide the "hints" needed at first to learn the skill, gradually removing those supports as the child becomes more independent. Consistent reinforcement is key to rewarding efforts and making the process motivating.
With patience, procedural adjustments and lots of practice over time, even significantly challenged children can make remarkable strides in independent functioning. This boosts confidence and creates a launchpad for greater autonomy and self-advocacy in the teen/adult years.
With patience, procedural adjustments and lots of practice over time, even significantly challenged children can make remarkable strides in independent functioning. This boosts confidence and creates a launchpad for greater autonomy and self-advocacy in the teen/adult years.
Peer-Reviewed Sources:
Peer-Reviewed Sources:
- Task analysis and chaining found highly effective for teaching self-care skills (Raulston et al., 2013)
- Task analysis and chaining found highly effective for teaching self-care skills (Raulston et al., 2013)
- ABA-based teaching produces substantial improvements in independence (Lee et al., 2020)
- ABA-based teaching produces substantial improvements in independence (Lee et al., 2020)
- Caregiver training and involvement maximizes generalization across settings (Ozokcu et al., 2018)
- Caregiver training and involvement maximizes generalization across settings (Ozokcu et al., 2018)
Local Michigan Resources:
Local Michigan Resources:
- The Arc Michigan - Advocacy group with programs promoting self-determination
- The Arc Michigan - Advocacy group with programs promoting self-determination
- Oakland County Support Groups - Group meets for parents of teens/adults with autism
- Oakland County Support Groups - Group meets for parents of teens/adults with autism
- Autism Alliance Support Search - Database for finding local autism resources
- Autism Alliance Support Search - Database for finding local autism resources
Mastering self-care and household management skills leads to transformative impacts for individuals with autism. With the right teaching approaches applied consistently over time, these crucial independence skills can be achieved.
Mastering self-care and household management skills leads to transformative impacts for individuals with autism. With the right teaching approaches applied consistently over time, these crucial independence skills can be achieved.
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