Core Skills Analysis
Life Skills and Personal Development
During a session with a support worker, Olivia worked on developing life skills. The activity provided an opportunity to practise abilities that support greater independence in everyday life. Olivia engaged with learning focused on applying practical skills, strengthening confidence, and building capacity for future tasks. These experiences helped Olivia connect skill development with participation in daily routines.
Community Engagement and Social Learning
Olivia took part in a support worker session focused on community engagement, exploring learning connected to participating in community life. The activity supported understanding that community involvement can include interacting with others and taking part in shared settings. Olivia had an opportunity to build familiarity with community participation while developing practical skills. This connected personal growth with being an active member of the wider community.
Tips
Tips Extend Olivia’s learning by choosing a familiar everyday task and making a simple visual sequence of its steps, then invite Olivia to practise it with support and reflect on what felt easier. Plan a community outing together and let Olivia help decide the destination, prepare a short checklist, and notice the people, places, and services encountered. Afterward, create a brief journal entry, photo story, or map of the experience to connect practical skills with community participation. Keep activities achievable and celebrate Olivia’s effort and growing independence.
Book Recommendations
- The Autism Social Skills Picture Book: Teaching Communication, Play and Emotion by Jed Baker: Uses illustrated scenarios to explore communication and social participation in everyday situations.
- Life Skills Activities for Secondary Students with Special Needs by Darlene Mannix: A collection of structured activities for practising functional skills and greater independence.
Try This Next
- Create a step-by-step checklist for practising one everyday life skill.
- Draw a community map showing places visited or familiar community locations.
- Write three reflection prompts: What did I practise? What did I notice? What would I like to try next?