(a) Studies have shown that social deficits are reported as the major cause of concern for adults with learning disabilities. Name the 10 areas that many adults with learning disabilities need assistance with. (b) Explain how educators are instrumental in preparing adolescents with disabilities to make successful transitions to adult life

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

(a) Social deficits
- social relationships and skills
- career counseling
- developing self-esteem and confidence
- overcoming dependence; survival
- vocational planning
- getting and holding a job
- reading
- spelling
- managing personal finances
- organizational skills

(b) "Curriculum content still tends to focus too much on remedial academics and not enough on functional skills (Halpern, 1992). To achieve the goal of relevance, Stilington et al. (2010) recommend integration of the focus on improved adult outcomes (i.e., life skills competencies) with the focus on improved academic outcomes (i.e., higher achievement in academic competencies). They indicate that many educators "are advocating for functional, generalizable skills for responsible citizenship as the ends and academic skills as a means to those ends." In transition planning, there always should be an emphasis on the skills and support needed for successful transition to the next environment, and, ultimately, to the environment of life as an adult."