The three major life skill areas are daily living, social skills, and occupational skills.

Daily living skills encompass various tasks needed for independent adult living.

• Handling money: counting money, shopping, paying bills, and managing a bank account
• Housekeeping: performing housekeeping and home maintenance tasks
• Self-care: performing proper grooming and hygiene, washing and storing clothing 
• Safety awareness: identifying danger and respecting emergency procedures
• Meal preparation: buying and storing food, preparing meals, and demonstrating appropriate eating habits.

Social Skills

Social skills allow individuals to get along with others and participate in society. 

• Self-awareness: identifying emotions, needs, and appropriate methods to deal with stress.
• Social responsibility: demonstrating appropriate behavior and respect towards others, recognizing authority, and following instructions. 
• Travel: getting around the community and following travel safety procedures.
• Solving problems: recognizing difficulties and seeking assistance
• Communicating: speaking, listening, and responding appropriately to others

Occupational Skills

These skills prepare students for meaningful work to their highest potential. 

• Appropriate work habits: maintaining punctuality and regular attendance, following directions and observing regulations, helping others.
• Job-seeking: identifying requirements of appropriate jobs, investigating local occupational opportunities, applying and interviewing for jobs. 
• Occupational skills: job training and vocational education.

At Gateway School, our life skills program includes functional living skills instruction such as self-care, personal hygiene, laundry, cooking, and cleaning. Students also receive social skills instruction through individual and group activities, as well as community-based instruction. Staff accompanies students into the community to practice appropriate social interaction at the local library, parks, supermarkets, and other public spaces. This allows students to generalize skills learned in school out into the real world in typical neighborhood environments. Students are also afforded the opportunity to sample vocational tasks at various local job sites to gain experience and exposure to different careers.

Not every special needs child will accomplish perfect mastery of all of these life skills, but it pays to give children practice in as many life skills as are appropriate for their abilities. Teaching the whole child about healthy relationships, gaining confidence and self-esteem, and appropriate everyday social behavior has benefits for every student.