Some Support • Life Changes • Goal 2:
Adapt Life Skills
Action step 1.
Identify daily life skills you need for changes in your preferred living situation.
As you scan your current living situation, take time to look at whether your needs and preferences have changed since your first decision. Maybe you require greater or fewer supports than you did when you were younger, or you decide that as you get older, you would rather live on your own, or transition to life with roommates.
If you realize your preferred living situation has changed, it is important to assess the changes that might happen to your daily living routines in a new setting. If you have not lived alone before, planning for shopping, cooking and doing chores can make the transition to a new living situation easier. If you have not lived with roommates before, consider how living with others might change your schedule, routines, level of social interaction, etc.
One good exercise is to ask a trusted person to help you imagine a typical day and week and note all the routines and related skills that you and they identify might be different.
If you are working with service providers, they can also help you figure out which skills you may need to work on to make the transition to a new living situation successful.
Resources
Action step 2.
Adapt routines for daily living.
If you decide that your change in living situation will require new skills, consider setting short- and long-term goals to help you prioritize which skills to focus on first.
You also can decide to learn or improve skills that will support your new routines and schedule by practicing them ahead of your move.
For example, a new setting might require different transportation to your job or other activities. Eating dinner with roommates might require greater flexibility in terms of food options and scheduling. Living on your own might require meal prep and clean up duties you may not have had before. These are all important changes to anticipate and be prepared for.
Your support network can help answer questions, set goals, practice skills and create a new schedule.
Resources
You’ve reached the end of the action steps for this support level and age group.
- To find services and providers in your area, visit our Resource Guide.
- For direct contact with a member of our Autism Response Team, call 1-888-AUTISM2 (1-888-288-4762)
- Send an email to: help@autismspeaks.org.
