One of the life skills that disabled people need to develop is how maintain a household daily. Many of them have been living with family members who take care of these tasks, but if they really want to start living a satisfying life on their own, they need to learn how to do the basics.

This is a crucial step towards true independence. It helps them become a part of the community, and skills learned at home can be transferred into greater functioning in the community.

For many people, these are skills that we do almost without thinking every day. But for someone who is disabled with a lifetime of assistance in these tasks, they can be challenging.

We take the time and make the effort to explain the ins and outs of household tasks to our disabled clients. It may take them a while to master these skills but once they do, they will be that much closer to leading independent lives. Full freedom is around the corner!

Garden maintenance teaches a person how to care for other living things and keep a household not only clean, but beautiful. That may not seem like much, but for many of our clients it is a crowning achievement of an independent life.

Some of the household tasks we teach people with disabilities include:

Understanding how to keep a place clean and handle the washing and vacuuming is another step toward living an independent life and can give family members a much-needed break as well. Keeping a house or apartment clean is a crucial step toward finding a place in the community and having long-lasting friendships as well.

Planning meals involves not only decisions about what to eat but planning a meal in advance to ensure a full diet. Whether it’s learning about cooking times or expiration dates on foods, meal planning and preparation is a very rewarding experience.

Of course, grocery shopping is a key element in all of this. This can be daunting at first because it involves heading out into the community but becomes a key element in having their independence. Once they understand what to shop for and how to do it, they are ready to live on their own and give back to the greater community.