By Doren Cummings, CEO and Founder, Planning a Life.
For young adults with disabilities, transitioning into independent living is about much more than just securing a place to live. It’s about building the everyday skills that will help them navigate life with confidence, connection, and self-reliance.
Whether they’re moving into their own apartment, a group setting, or another supportive housing environment, these 14 skills — drawn from Doren Cummings’ Accessing Affordable Housing workshop — can help set them up for success.
One of the most valuable life skills is understanding and caring for others. Encourage young adults to recognize emotions, practice gratitude, and look for small ways to show kindness—whether it’s helping a neighbor, thanking a bus driver, or simply listening when someone needs to talk. The best way to teach empathy? Model it in your own actions.
Effective communication is key to making friends, advocating for oneself, and navigating daily interactions. Start with the basics—greetings, making eye contact, and respecting personal space—then build toward more advanced skills like reading social cues, asking follow-up questions, and staying on topic.
Living with others means learning to share—bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas. Teach the importance of cleaning up after oneself, taking turns, and respecting other people’s belongings. These small habits make a big difference in maintaining positive relationships with roommates or neighbors.
Life doesn’t always go according to plan, and the ability to handle change is a crucial life skill. Start small—switch up daily routines, introduce new foods, or practice waiting for a turn. These moments build resilience and help young adults adjust to unexpected changes with greater ease.
Teamwork and cooperation help make community living smoother. Teach young adults how to compromise, take turns, and accept group decisions—even when they don’t go their way. Practicing these skills in group activities helps prepare them for real-life situations.
Personal space, privacy, and respecting others’ belongings are fundamental in any living situation. Help young adults understand when to knock before entering a room, ask before borrowing something, and recognize when someone needs personal space.
Good hygiene leads to better health and confidence. Depending on individual needs, this could mean learning to follow a toileting schedule, increasing independence in transfers, or developing daily showering and teeth-brushing habits.
Understanding personal safety is critical. Teach young adults how to evacuate a building in case of emergency, recognize safe versus unsafe areas, and avoid wandering away from supervised settings. These skills help build independence while keeping them secure.
Frustration and anger are natural, but learning how to manage them is essential. Introduce self-regulation strategies like deep breathing, taking a break, or using a calming activity. The earlier these habits are formed, the easier it becomes to manage emotions in adulthood.
Everyday life comes with challenges, and knowing how to address them is a vital skill. Start with simple decision-making—such as choosing between two solutions offered by an adult—then progress to independent problem-solving. Encouraging young adults to ask for help when needed is just as important as finding solutions on their own.
From waking up on time to keeping appointments, time management builds independence. Help young adults use visual schedules, alarms, and planners to stay on track. Assistive technology can also be a game-changer in creating routines that stick!
Navigating the community is a huge step toward independence. This might mean learning to ride in a car safely, taking public transportation, or using ride-sharing services. Practicing routes in advance can help build confidence and reduce anxiety.
Young adults need to know how to express their needs and rights. Start by helping them identify their feelings and practice simple phrases like, “I need a break” or “Can you help me?” Over time, they can learn to advocate in medical appointments, workplaces, and social settings.
In today’s world, digital skills are non-negotiable. Teach responsible technology use—how to send an email, recognize online scams, and interact safely on social media. Setting boundaries for screen time and internet use is just as important.
Every young adult deserves the chance to live independently with confidence and dignity. By teaching these essential life skills early, we set them up for success—not just in housing, but in life.
Many different housing options are available to young adults, and the options that work best often depend on the diverse needs of the individual and what kind of funding is available. In this workshop in our housing series, learn about housing options – including creative models parents are setting up themselves – and options for funding them.
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