Preparing students for adult life

It is very important for teachers to teach social skills, independent functioning skills and functional academics in order to prepare our students for adult life. Learning how to get along with others does not always come easy for students with ASD and other developmental disorders. Learning the concepts of telling time and counting money are very important skills that may not get the attention needed as our students get older.

http://www.linguisystems.com/
Linguisystems offers a vareity of language and communication based materials that can be used to assist our students with transition. Some titles include:
Autism & PDD adolescent social skills lessons (Reese & Challenner, 2001)--a series of books that include social stories on health and hygiene, secondary schools, interacting and vocational skills.
Autism & PDD safety (Reese & Challenner, 2002)-- a book that includes social stories regarding safety.
That's life! Reading comprehension (Whiskeyman, Truman, Johnson, Bowers, LoGiudice, Stonz & Conger, 1998)--includes high interest, low reading level stories appropriate for our older students.

http://www.mayerjohnson.com/
Mayer-Johnson publishes books and materials which can be used for our non-readers. They use "Boardmaker" symbols, picture icons that correspond to words to assist our students. These icons can be used with augmented and/or assistive technology or used as a low tech device to help our students communicate.
More social skills stories: Very personal picture stories for readers and nonreaders K-12 (Johnson, 1996)--a book that includes social stories and work sheets regarding personal hygiene and inappropriate behaviors.
From the classroom to the workplace volume 1 (Pritchard & Stone, 1997)-- This book includes lessons and worksheets on employment at grocery stores, retail stores and housekeeping.
From the classroom to the workplace volume 2 (Pritchard & Stone, 1997)-- A continuation of volume 1 that includes lessons on restaurant and office/clerical employment.

Bruinicks, R.H., Guilman, C.J., Anderson, J.L. & Morreau, L.E. (1991). Adaptive living skills curriculum: Personal living skills. Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing
Bruinicks, Guilman, Anderson and Morreau's book on living skills provides special educators with lesson plans on social manners, eating skills and basic personal hygiene, just to name a few. This book is an invaluable source for teachers involved in the transition process.