Sexual Relationship IEP Goals Sexual relationships are a part of every adult’s life. Whether or not we want to think about it or talk about it, we must. If you are expecting that your disabled child will live independently, this is something they likely will encounter–sexual urges and the opportunity to act upon them. Have…
Personal Safety and Community Participation Originally, I had this giant article with a list of over 300 independent living skills. Many of you, teachers and parents, said it was too overwhelming. So, I’m breaking it down. This way, teachers and parents can use it as a guide for what their child needs to be independent…
Personal Hygiene IEP Goals Personal hygiene skills is something that many of us take for granted. If you do not pick up on social cues, and your interoception is different because of your neurodivergence, you may not notice these things. But, others will! That’s for sure. And some things, like managing your medication, can be…
Shopping and Banking Independent Living Skills Originally, I had this giant article with a list of over 300 independent living skills. Many of you, teachers and parents, said it was too overwhelming. So, I’m breaking it down. This way, teachers and parents can use it as a guide for what their child needs to be…
Transition IEP Goals We all want our kids to live as independently as possible. Sometimes when I think about it, I kinda can’t believe that my Dad just dropped me off somewhere 150 miles away and expected me to figure it out. They never gave me any instruction, just expected me to learn by watching….
Independent Functioning IEP Goals for Life Skills Before I get started with this list of Life Skills Functional Goals for an IEP, I want to make one thing clear. That is, remember, IEPs are all about the “I.” Any student who has life skills listed as an area of need can have life skills IEP…
Life Skills Classroom | Special Education Resource Room I really hate the term life skills. I mean, after all, we ALL need life skills. It’s just that what each person needs to be taught varies greatly. But, if your child has an IEP, and depending on their skill set, a “life skills classroom” or “life…
Functional Money Skills Remember when we were little, and we thought nickels were worth more than dimes, just because they were bigger? Ah, those were the days. As part of adulting, we need to teach our kids practical money skills. Money as a topic usually falls under functional math. However, for kids with IEPs, it…
Feces Smearing One of the most unpleasant parts of parenting is the gross stuff we sometimes have to encounter. It starts out fine, right? A little baby throw up and dirty diapers–no big deal! But what if you, ahem, have some issues long after your child is no longer a baby? What about poop smearing?…
Toilet Training an Older Child I am wildly passionate about kids being toilet trained if it is a possibility. I never dreamed I would be a passionate advocate for toilet training. But, here I am. Lack of toileting skills is one functional IEP skill that really carries a serious stigma for our kids. It’s very…
CBI on your IEP Since my son has had CBI on his IEP for almost a decade, I can always spot the CBI trips when I am out in my local community. To the untrained eye, it looks like just a bunch of kids out at the grocery store or local restaurant. But, if you…
Behavior IEP Goals I can’t believe I haven’t tackled this topic before. Well, ok, I can. It’s an IEP subject area that is incredibly complex. It also is one that affects our kids day-to-day the most, and in my opinion, is usually handled the worst. I see horrible FBAs completed by well-intended staff who have…