The Functional Living Skills Program is designed to meet the needs of young adults with moderate intellectual disabilities. There are two classrooms. In the FLS classroom the students range in age from 14 to 22 years. The overall goal is to assist our students in reaching their potential for independence. In the second classroom, the FLS Transition, students range in age from 18 to 22 years. The main emphasis is vocational experience. These students are gaining the skills they need to be successful out of school when they graduate. The two classes are separated, although they do many combined activities.
Major goals are defined within the following six areas:
- Functional Academics includes skills relating to reading, writing, numeration, computation, problem-solving and consumerism.
- Communication emphasizes skills in listening, speaking and social communication.
- Social Skills involves manners, relationships, affective development and sexuality.
- Personal Management encompasses self-care, home-economics, housekeeping, clothing care, mobility, safety and community access.
- Leisure Skills focuses on behaviour related to individual and group leisure activities.
- Vocational Skills include physical skills, work behaviours and work experience.
These six program areas facilitate our students’ transition from the school setting to the community setting. Work and home placements are uniquely determined. Work-related options would typically include a sheltered workshop setting or post-secondary vocational training. Group homes and personal care homes are the most common living options.
