Re[2]: Life Skills

[Guest guest]

I like that approach....

is 23 (24 in a couple of weeks) and has a lot of skills from helping

around the house. She now has a part-time job at the local UCP (three days a

week, 2 hours a day) where she does some day-porter type jobs - cleans the

microwave in the breakroom, wipes down tables, gets the facility ready for the

next day.

She also volunteers every Saturday at the local Thrift store that is a

fundraiser for the Homeless Shelter. She sorts items donated, organizes things

on the shelves, prices items.... and cleans the mirrors in the dressing rooms,

vacuums.... she loves it! She started there when she was about 18, I think....

and has been through at least 5 changes in management there.

Not like I can get her to do any of those things voluntarily at home.... She

has her assigned duties, she sets the table and clears it, takes out the garbage

and the recycling - but needs a lot of reminding on parts that there is a

timeframe attached to them....

She is quite proud of the fact that she is a volunteer - and is okay with not

getting paid for that time... but a part of that is that she gets a break in her

shift and can walk to the grocery store that is close and buy a soda. :^|

--

Kathy

Mom to (23-Ds)

(20 - HoH, and currently working as a canvasser for the local

Congressman's campaign (and got held-up while canvassing - scary) )

Amber (32 - Keratoconus)

Meryl (AVM)

and grandma to Jade (12) Christian (3) Aiden (1 1/2) and Kaitlyn (1 month)

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 10/26/2008 at 11:52 AM Sharon opined:

| I do have to add, twice a month goes with the self contained special

ed class at the high school and cleans a church and a youth center. I asked

that she attend these days. Not that she needs to learn how to clean. She

already knows how to vacuum, mop, dust. (And the teacher was very impressed

with her skill level, not to brag, but my goodness, what did she expect). My

goal, and it is written in 's IEP, is that work on her time

management skills. In other words, learn to complete tasks in a certain time

frame, not what we call " time " at home. And it is working very well, both

with the school program, and it is spilling over into home also. Now when she

goes upstairs to clean her room, she does just as good of a job, but she does it

in a better time frame.

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| And when we told what she would be doing with the school, we told her

she is doing community service, giving back to the community and helping others.

She understands that very well, and I heard the teacher liked that idea so well,

she now has her whole class understanding that, and the church and community

center along the same lines also.

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| Sharon H.

| Mom to , (17, DS) and , (13)

| South Carolina

| www.gsdss.net

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| " Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of

battle. "

|

| " Life is too short for drama & petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely,

love truly and forgive quickly. "

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| Life Skills

|

| Okay, before I get my knickers in a royal twist someone please tell me

what they think.

|

| We got a 'draft' copy of Nick's new IEP (we meet on the 28th) and when I'm

reviewing it I come across a section of " Life Skills " and goals that state:

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| Nick will learn to sort laundry (whites/darks).

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| Nick will learn to run a washing machine.

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| Nick will learn to run a dryer.

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| Nick will learn to fold towels and dishcloths.

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| Nick will learn to plan a menu.

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| Nick will learn to cook a simple meal using kitchen appliances.

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| Am I over-reacting for thinking -- this is not Academics this is stuff I'm

supposed to teach at home?? (BTW, Nick ran a load of white clothes this evening

through the washer and the dryer -- we left and went out to dinner before the

dryer was done so, no he didn't fold them, but I'm particular about my folding

and would probably only let him fold the socks for now anyway.)

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| Also, in the section where they discuss his current levels it reads

(paraphrased) Nick knows most of his numbers but has difficulties with numbers

in the 100s.? Then under goals it states (paraphrased) Nick will learn his

numbers up to 100 including fractions of 1/2 and a 1/4 and their decimal

points.? So, I write 1-100 and ask Nick to name them, he names them all.? Then I

wrote 135, 155, 198 -- yep got all those too.? Now, money is still confusing to

him.? We did play around with how many pennies = nickles, dimes, quarters.? How

many quarters = dollars, etc.

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| I'll be honest, I have no problem with " Life Skills " taught in a home ec

type class, but have major problems with the thought they might have Nick

washing the schools towels and dish cloths.?

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| Thoughts?

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| Thanks!

|

| Cari

| Mom to Nick, 15 just happens to have Down Syndrome (ADD, OCD tendencies,

Hyperlexia, and Autistic tendencies)

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