
By: Becki Lauzon, M.A., CRC
Transition Specialist and Consultant
With rules and regulations around COVID-19 beginning to change, I took the time to reflect on a blog that I wrote almost exactly one year ago today. That blog focused on how bolster skills during the summer months when COVID-19 restrictions had limited so many of the hands-on, community-based and real-world experiences and opportunities for those of transition age due to social distancing. So many of the typical learning opportunities were just not available at that time.
While many things may have changed since last year, we are still not completely back to our old “normal.” In fact, I have spent the last year working to adapt transition skills and services for the students and clients with whom I work for this “new normal.” Since we will be living in this “new normal” for an uncertain amount of time longer, we’ll need to continue to provide transition support and services to our young adults in this still fairly limited environment.
We are indeed beginning to open back up, but not all of the typical opportunities and experiences in the community will be readily available to participate in. If you are once again looking to bolster transition skills over the summer, the following are examples of resources and activities that could be incorporated into an individual’s summer routine. Updated suggestions for opportunities that may be more available this year are also included.
Career-Research/Vocational Activities:
https://careerkids.com/pages/career-research
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:career%20research/Price-Range/Free
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/video-library.aspx
Online Banking:
https://www.moneyinstructor.com/onlinebanking.asp
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Price-Range/Free/Search:online%20banking
Domestic Skills (i.e., cooking, cleaning, laundry):
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/DLS-Doing-the-Laundry-Workbook-423396
https://tacanow.org/family-resources/developing-lifeskills-chores/
Recreation and Leisure:
http://www.spedchildmass.com/special-needs-recreation-disability-autism-aspergers-massachusetts/
www.kahoot.com (several free interactive games that can be played in-person or virtually)
Post-secondary Education:
https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/
About the Author
Becki Lauzon, M.A., CRC, works with teens, young adults and their families out of the Newton, MA and Plainville, MA offices. Lauzon has unparalleled experience as a Transition Specialist, Transition Consultant and Vocational Program Coordinator. Lauzon will be providing transition assessment (including testing, functional evaluations and observations) consultation, case management, training and professional development for schools; and transition planning, consultation and coaching for transition-aged students and their parents.
To schedule an appointment with one of NESCA’s expert transition specialists or neuropsychologists, please complete our online intake form.
Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents (NESCA) is a pediatric neuropsychology practice and integrative treatment center with offices in Newton and Plainville, Massachusetts, and Londonderry, New Hampshire, serving clients from preschool through young adulthood and their families. For more information, please email info@nesca-newton.com or call 617-658-9800.
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