The first stop on the roadmap is assessing the skills and supports your family member will need to live as independently as possible. (Even in a group home, individuals should be able to participate meaningfully in daily activities.) This assessment can begin at any time and the results put to good use right away. Even a small child can work on skill development. This process should be well underway by adolescence, and should be revisited on a regular basis.
Good places to start are:
Also consider investigating these parts of our Housing Boot Camp:
- Preparing your family member (which has tips on skill acquisition); and
- Learning about housing.(which has additional assessment tools and information on skill development).