This book introduces readers to a wide range of principles used in teaching daily living skills to adults with developmental disabilities. It covers essential topics such as understanding the basics of behavior, assessing behaviors, writing plans, instructional processes, reinforcement, behavior management tips, data collection, and ethical issues, along with insights into vocational training.
It is very easy to fall into a rut when staying indoors at a facility-based day program, especially for individuals with developmental disabilities. How do you engage adult clients in interesting and fun age-appropriate activities that also enhance their daily living skills and align with your program's vocational training mission? Here are 31 ideas—26 of them complete with the number of participants, difficulty level, prep time, activity time, materials needed, and activity instructions.
What do your clients and staff do during times of slow or no work in your vocational training program for individuals with developmental disabilities? Here is an idea-generating book for downtime activities that can help enhance daily living skills. It includes over 20 ideas that will hopefully inspire even more of your own suggestions for implementing these activities. You will find recommendations on how to discuss important topics with your adult clients, such as 'Appropriate Work Behavior' and 'Job Search Training' (What kinds of jobs are available? Where do you look for a job? Applications and Interviews). Downtime activities are categorized into three basic headings: Brief (up to a few hours), Moderate (1-2 days), and Severe (3 or more days in length).
Why might a client struggle with certain daily living skills? What aspect of 'Crossing the Street Safely' presents a challenge? This book dissects 25 skills into individual components, making it a valuable resource for those working with individuals with developmental disabilities. For instance, 'Crossing the Street' is divided into seven distinct steps, accompanied by seventeen instructional suggestions, making it ideal for vocational training.
A basic "how to" for writing Individual Service Plans that focus on enhancing daily living skills for individuals with developmental disabilities. This guide provides step-by-step explanations for thinking through each component of a plan, including Long Range Goals, Objectives, and Criteria, which are essential for effective vocational training. It also includes sample assessment forms and questionnaires, along with an introduction to the basics of Instructional Processes.
Microsoft Word files on a CD. There are nine sections in this orientation: Basic Orientation, Administrative Requirements, General House Guidelines, Ethical Issues, Basic Principles of Behavior, Instructional Processes, Reinforcement, Interim Management Strategies, Data Collection, and Vocational Training. This vocational training is essential for individuals with developmental disabilities to enhance their daily living skills. There may be some pieces of information or even whole sections that don’t apply to your program. That’s OK. Just delete those sections and write in what does apply. That's the whole point.
Seven training topics are presented in easy-to-understand language for staff members supporting adults with developmental disabilities. With these resources, you can teach your staff the basic fundamentals of behavior, including how to support daily living skills, without the need to pay an 'expert' to conduct your trainings (though you can still hire me at a premium to come and do it for you).
Basic Principles of Behavior covers the definition of a developmental disability, how to define specific behaviors, and a fundamental understanding of the causes of behavior.
Behavior Reinforcement discusses positive and negative reinforcement, type I and II punishment, primary and secondary reinforcers, and how reinforcement can be utilized to encourage desired behaviors.
Ethical Issues addresses the rights of people with disabilities, confidentiality, and the care and supervision of clients, ensuring ethical standards in vocational training.
Instructional Processes includes functional programming and basic instructional methods such as prompting hierarchies, shaping, and chaining to enhance skill acquisition.
Behavior Management introduces principles of behavior management along with interim management strategies—what can we do while the client's service or behavior support plan is still being developed?
Data Collection reviews different types of assessments (and why they are necessary) along with tracking sheets to monitor progress in daily living skills.
Service Plans illustrate what information a well-written plan for skills and behaviors should encompass, as well as the decision-making process involved.
There is more information on all of these books related to daily living skills, vocational training, and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities (and you can order them) at our Moss Canyon website at www.mosscanyon.com.