Supporting daily living skills in children with autism - Children's National

Daily living skills are the things we need to do to get through the day. These skills make life easier and simpler. For example, personal hygiene, cooking, money management and talking to your doctor about your health are all examples of daily living skills. People often call these "independence skills" because they help us become more self-reliant.

Independence looks different for everyone. We all require some support and reliance on others to get through our day-to-day lives. For example, after a long day, you might order takeout instead of cooking. Or you might ask a friend or an accountant to help with your taxes.

Research shows that autistic people often have difficulty with daily living skills. These skills can be especially challenging for teens and young adults during major life transitions, such as finishing high school. Every autistic person is different, with their own strengths and challenges. However, studies show that helping autistic children and teens build daily living skills can improve quality of life in many ways. You can start teaching these skills at any age.

Autistic children, teens and young adults often do best when they receive support such as:

• Break tasks into small, clear steps: Use a visual schedule to break tasks into manageable steps. Let your child or teen check off steps as they finish them. Start with one step and add more as they learn. For example, if your teen is learning to do laundry, they might start by putting clothes in the hamper. Next, they can carry clothes to the washer, then add detergent. Over time, add steps until they can complete the entire process, including folding and putting clothes away. Praise effort and progress - it doesn't need to be perfect every time.
• Model and prompt: Show your child how to do the task while explaining each step. Then let them try it with your guidance and support.
• Make it part of their routine: Practice the skill daily so it becomes a habit. For example, if your child is learning to dress themselves, have them do it or practice part of it each morning before school.
• Adjust for sensory needs: Some tasks may feel uncomfortable because of smells, textures or sounds. For example, cleaning products may smell too strong. Ask your child or teen how they feel and make adjustments, such as wearing a mask to reduce odors.
• Practice in different places (generalize skills): Practice ordering food at different restaurants with different payment systems, such as a sit-down meal versus ordering and paying at a counter. If your teen is preparing to live more independently, practicing skills in new settings helps build confidence and comfort.

Important daily living skills for teens and young adults

If you have an autistic teen or young adult, some daily living skills to focus on include:

• Personal hygiene: Showering, bathing, using deodorant and other self-care tasks.
• Laundry
• Money management: Budgeting, using cash (which can feel more concrete), debit and credit cards and tracking spending. Apps like Greenlight can help teach these skills.
• Nutrition and food shopping: Eating a balanced diet, reading food labels, choosing appropriate portions, ordering food, planning meals and making grocery lists.
• Cooking: Safely using the stove and oven to prepare simple meals.
• Healthcare: Knowing what to do in an emergency, finding medical and mental health services, making appointments, refilling prescriptions and taking medications correctly.
• Self-advocacy: Asking for mental health care or school or work accommodations. Practice what to say and write notes if needed.
• Safety: Learning how to stay safe in new situations when familiar adults are not present. If you are interested in tools that help autistic adults and families prepare for emergencies, see the study on Emergency Preparedness for Autistic Youth listed below.

Remember: Progress takes time - celebrate small wins. Independence looks different for everyone and that's okay.

Other tools and resources that may help