Special Education Across the Lifespan

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to special education across the lifespan, including vocational training and adaptive behavior.

Vocational Training

Skill-based education and training designed to prepare individuals for specific trades or employment.

Importance of Vocational Training for Special Needs Populations

Promotes independence, enhances self-esteem, facilitates economic self-sufficiency, and encourages social inclusion.

Objectives in Vocational Training

Develop job-specific skills, improve work habits and routines, teach interpersonal and communication skills, promote decision-making and problem-solving, and facilitate transition to employment or further education.

School-Based Vocational Programs

Work experience through school-to-work transitions and vocational subjects in special education curricula.

Community-Based Instruction (CBI)

Real-world training in local businesses or community settings.

Supported Employment

Placement in jobs with the help of job coaches or support staff.

Sheltered Workshops

Structured environments with repetitive tasks (though controversial due to low pay and limited advancement).

Pre-vocational Skills Training

Teaches foundational skills such as time management, personal hygiene, and following directions.

Common Vocational Areas for Training

Retail, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Office work, and Artisanal trades.

Challenges in Vocational Training

Limited availability of appropriate programs, stigma and discrimination, transportation and accessibility issues, inconsistent inter-agency coordination, and funding/policy constraints.

Adaptive Behavior

The daily living skills that individuals need to function effectively and independently in their environment.

Components of Adaptive Behavior

Communication, self-care, social skills, home living, use of community resources, health and safety, functional academics, leisure and work skills.

Who Needs Adaptive Behavior Support?

Children with developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, physical impairments, and neurological disorders.

Developing Competence for Assessment

Building knowledge, skills, and confidence in assessing adaptive behavior.

Key components to developing competence for assessment

Understanding what to assess, learning how to assess, interpreting results, and using the results.

Importance of Assessing Adaptive Behavior

Understanding how well a child is coping with everyday demands, supporting early intervention and educational planning, and ensuring children receive the right services and support.