Sunday, February 8, 2009

Social Survival Skills

What are they? - People with special needs must learn how to be safe and interact in socially acceptable ways in order to become active adult community members. Much of this type of learning occurs informally with family. Parents may need to focus more attention on the development of social skills in order to optimize the adult opportunities their child/teen will have when they become adults.

What are social survival skills?
1. Staying safe in a variety of community settings as independently as possible;
2. Social exchanges - when, how and with whom to greet, ask questions,
make a purchase, disclose personal information;
3. Street smarts - literally - how to cross a street, stay together in a crowd, be alert for unexpected environmental hazards, active driveways, parked cars, mall parking lots...

Learning these skills is essential for safe participation in adult community activities such as working, taking a class, shopping or using a community service such as the library or a park.

I will be speaking on this and other transition related topics at
the following SEPTA programs...


Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 PM at the Garden City High School and
Tuesday, March 10 at 7 PM at the Massapequa High School.

Also, please check out "disability scoop" an informative on-line newsletter of disability related news. I was pleased to be interviewed for an upcoming issue on "Transition" - of course!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

just wanted to say those are some really great tips, and directly to the point. also overall your blog is GREAT!

I am going to BUY your BOOK right now! Hope amazon still has some copies left.

keep up the great work!!