Sample Lesson Plans

Skills Mastery and Learning for Life for People With Disabilities

People with disabilities often possess and attain most of the same SCANS foundation skills and competencies as people who don't have disabilities. People with mental disabilities also can and should master life skills. As author Joan M. Goodship writes in her publication "Life Skills Mastery for Students with Special Needs":*

Life Skills are essential to job functioning, and they must be included in instruction for students with special needs. Several million individuals with learning problems are still denied the opportunity to engage in meaningful employment in the United States. Large numbers of students with disabilities, both high school graduates and dropouts, earn very low salaries (Edgar, 1988). These students do possess the potential to live and work in the community if they receive appropriate life skills instruction (Rusch & Phelps, 1987). However, without this instruction they often fail to hold their jobs. A life skills curriculum approach blends academic, daily living, personal/social, and occupational skills into integrated lessons designed to help students learn to function independently in society.

Following is a comparison of Learning for Life curricula and life skills as set forth by Goodship.

LEARNING FOR LIFE LESSON PLANS, WORKSHOPS, AND LIFE SKILLS MASTERY Program for People With Disabilities (Age 14 Through Completion of High School)
OCCUPATIONAL LIFE SKILLS **	LEARNING FOR LIFE LESSON PLANS
Knowing and Exploring Occupations Options	Elementary Code of Ethics When People Steal From Me Seventh and Eighth Grade Personality Traits Job Traits Personal Skills Analysis "Your Future" Decisions Occupations and Career Clusters Identifying Aptitudes Aptitudes vs. Jobs Aptitudes and Job Performance Jobs Senior High Interests and Aptitudes Skills and Job Traits Getting Ready—Education and Training Opportunities Occupation Selection
Selecting and Planning Occupational Choices	Seventh and Eighth Grade Role Model Discussion of Job Selection Goals Senior High Looking at Scientific Careers Looking at Communication Careers Looking at Building Careers Working for Yourself Researching Careers at the Library
Exhibiting Appropriate Work Habits and Behavior	Special Needs Common Dangers Classroom Routine Days of the Week Months of the Year Elementary Respecting My Peers Being a Good Worker Being Responsible Choices Seventh and Eighth Grade Staying Healthy Relationships Commitment Personality Traits Role-Play Senior High Rights and Responsibilities of Workers Employer and Labor Relations How to Keep a Job Leadership and Being a Team Member
Seeking, Securing, and Maintaining Employment	Special Needs Reporting Inappropriate Sexual Conduct Thoughts, Feelings, Actions Elementary Being a Good Worker Making Good Decisions How I Learn From My Mistakes Seventh and Eighth Grade Occupations and Career Clusters Identifying Aptitudes Aptitudes vs. Jobs Aptitudes and Job Performance Improving Personal Aptitudes Staying Healthy Jobs Role Model Discussion of Job Selection Goals Senior High Effective Communication Writing Résumés Where to Find a Job How to Keep a Job
Exhibiting Sufficient Physical and Manual Skills	Special Needs Five Senses Daily Exercise Elementary Physical Fitness Basic Art Seventh and Eighth Grade Staying Healthy Aptitudes and Job Performance Senior High Employer and Labor Relations How to Keep a Job Leadership and Being a Team Member The Importance of Good Health

* From the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Digest #E469. ERIC and the Educational Resources Organization Directory (EROD) are extensive sources of educational information. Visit the EROD Web site at http://www.ed.gov/BASISDB/EROD/direct/SF

** Source: Joan M. Goodship, "Life Skills Mastery for Students with Special Needs," ERIC Digest #E469.

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Skills Mastery and Learning for Life for People With Disabilities

LEARNING FOR LIFE LESSON PLANS,WORKSHOPS, AND LIFE SKILLS MASTERY

OCCUPATIONAL LIFE SKILLS **

LEARNING FOR LIFE LESSON PLANS

LEARNING FOR LIFE LESSON PLANS,
WORKSHOPS, AND LIFE SKILLS MASTERY