Our top technique on how to improve independent living skills as an adult living with a learning disability
If you are living with a learning disability – such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or a learning disability related to your autism, ADHD, Asperger’s, or Down syndrome – it is likely you need help from others completing day-to-day tasks and activities. These activities, including cooking, cleaning, and taking care of your personal hygiene – are known as `independent living skills`. Developing your independent living skills is a big part of readying you (and those who care about you!) to live in your own home and continuing to lead a safe, happy, and healthy life without depending heavily on friends, family, and carers. This blog is about how to improve independent living skills as a disabled adult. If you’d like to learn more, please call our friendly and knowledgeable team on 01482 320200. We look forward to hearing from you!
What are some independent living skills?
Independent living skills is a term that covers every competence needed to confidently live alone and without the support of friends, family, and carers. Not only that, but independent living skills allow individuals to obtain an excellent quality of life – including employment, looking after others, having the home and garden they’ve always wanted, and much more.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of independent living skills:
Cooking wholesome, balanced meals
Cleaning your home
Exercising and keeping fit
Taking care of your personal hygiene – brushing your teeth and hair, dressing in clean clothes, remembering to take medication, etc.
Knowing how to complete basic first aid or what to do in an emergency
Managing your money
Practising basic maths and English skills – which in turn helps individuals to text and email, count change out in shops, and even search for jobs when they’re ready
Personal organisation – ensuring you leave the house on time for appointments, that you look after your personal belongings, etc.
Using public transport or getting from A to B
Even maintaining your garden – mowing the grass, weeding, planting seeds
How to develop independent living skills
What’s the best way to improve any skill? Practise, practise, practise! At CASE Training Services, we ensure each trainee gets the 1-2-1 and group support they need.
Trainees learn at different paces and everybody hits milestones in their own time, of course – but most individuals begin with lots of hand-holding and finish their sessions completing tasks or activities with absolute independence. We lead our classes – including cooking, cleaning, and money management – in our independent living skills suite. The suite has recently been refurbished and is kitted out with a full kitchen, laundry services, dining area, and much more!