Core Skills Analysis
Life Skills and Personal Development
During the support worker session, Olivia worked on developing life skills, building experience that could help with everyday participation and increasing independence. Olivia engaged in a supported learning experience in which practical skills were the focus. This gave Olivia an opportunity to practise applying life-skill learning in a supportive setting. At age 14, Olivia was developing awareness of how practical skills can support participation in daily life.
Community Engagement and Social Learning
Olivia took part in a session focused on community engagement, connecting personal development with participation in the wider community. Through this activity, Olivia explored community participation as a meaningful area of learning. The session supported Olivia in building understanding of how life skills and community involvement can work together. At age 14, Olivia was developing experience with learning focused on taking part in community life.
Tips
Tips Continue Olivia’s learning through practical, supported experiences that connect life skills with community participation. Choose a familiar community activity and invite Olivia to help plan its steps, such as deciding what needs to be prepared and how to follow the activity from beginning to end. Afterward, talk together about what felt useful and which skills Olivia practised. A simple photo journal or reflection page can help Olivia notice progress over time and choose a next community experience to explore.
Book Recommendations
- The Social Skills Picture Book: Teaching play, emotion, and communication to children with autism by Jed Baker: A visual guide with practical examples for learning communication and social skills in everyday situations.
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey: An accessible introduction to goal setting, decision-making, and personal responsibility for teenagers.
Try This Next
- Create a life-skills checklist for Olivia to use before, during, and after a chosen community activity.
- Make a community activity planning sheet with spaces for the activity, preparation steps, and a short reflection.
- Draw a map of a familiar community place and label the steps involved in taking part in an activity there.