What are Functional Skills, and Why Does My Child with a Disability Need Them?

Are you conce
ed that your child with a disability is not learningnacademics at a grade and age level pace? Have you thought that you
child may benefit from a curriculum of functional skills? Would younlike to learn about a resource that can help you learn more aboutnfunctional curriculums for your child in special education? Thisnarticle will discuss functional skills, functional academics, why you
child with a disability needs them, and a resource for moreninformation.

Functional skills are defined as skills that can be used everyday, inndifferent environments. Functional skills focus on different areasnsuch as home (cooking, cleaning etc) family, self help skillsn(bathing, brushing teeth, dressing, grooming), employment, recreation,ncommunity involvement, health, and functional academics. All studentsnwith disabilities will benefit from functional skill training, to helpnthem in their adult life.

Functional academics are also important for children withndisabilities, who may not be able to learn age and grade appropriatenacademics. Functional academics are defined as academic areas thatnwill be used by the student for the rest of their life. For example:
Reading (read signs; stop, go, mens, womens, read a recipe). Mathn(money, grocery shopping, making change, budget). Health (grooming,noral hygiene, plan healthy meals). A wonderful resource to learn morenabout functional skills, and functional curriculums to help childrennwith special needs is the book entitled Functional Curriculum for
Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Age Students with Special Needs.
The book is Edited by Paul Wehman and John Kregal, and is a resourcenthat you will use again and again.

Your child with a disability needs functional skills because thesenskills will have meaning for your child, and will help them be asnindependent as possible, as an adult. For example: Every child eats,nand being able to cook or prepare simple foods will help them be morenindependent. If children learn simple household chores, these skillsncan be turned into job skills when they get older. For example: Myndaughter Angelina, who has a severe disability, learned how to foldntowels when she was in elementary school. When Angelina entered highnschool she had a job folding towels at the high school pool. Because
Angelina already had the functional skill of folding towels, thentransition to a job folding towels was pretty easy. Angelina alsonlea
ed that when she worked hard folding towels, she was paid. On paynday, she was able to spend the money that she made at her job.
Learning functional skills that can be turned into work is criticalnfor all children with disabilities. They will gain pride by being ablento work, and will understand the connection between work and money.

By learning what functional skills are and why they are important,nwill help your child as they grow into adulthood. Do not be afraid tonbring up functional skill training for your child, when you arenparticipating in IEP meetings. Your child is depending on you to helpnthem be a happy fulfilled adult!