Within the fields of special education, psychology, and social research, it is widely assumed and documented that people with disabilities take longer to achieve traditional benchmarks associated with becoming an adult than their non-disabled peers. But a recently published study called
Valuable insight into howAmerican youths mature, whether disabled or not. No doubt all young adults benefit from learning independent living skills. They have a thing or two to learn from disabled youth in order to get their ducks in a row!
Great observation Claire… the way forward for our country and young adults is to connect our academics and functional skill sets together. We need to do this without relegating a stigmatizing label for the rigor or lack thereof due to calling them “life skills.” Becoming proficient at both are worthwhile national curricular priorities and, when properly linked, actually bring meaning to and reinforce each other. I think most parents can appreciate the value of their adult children getting out on their own!!