J. A. Scott Kelso

This article describes a living skills program tailored to adults living with developmental disabilities and the benefits direct occupational therapy services can provide for this population. Implementation of the program occurred in a group home setting that served eight clients in the Boston area. Prior to implementation, clients received individualized occupational therapy treatment with a focus on sensorimotor techniques and minimal life skills training. The program’s primary objective was to increase clients’ responsibility in their lives by allowing them full discretion at determining the course of the program. Other objectives entailed improvement in problem-solving skills and abstract reasoning, an increased ability for task initiation, and growth in social-interaction skills. The program consisted of voluntary weekly group and individualized sessions. During the first session, clients had the opportunity to choose the topic they wished to cover from a list. Topics included activities of daily living (nutrition, personal hygiene, wheelchair maintenance), personal health care (medication management, emergency medical help), and homemaking (laundry, meal planning and preparation, basic home maintenance). Clients were provided objectives for the topics which allowed them to determine if they need additional time learning the skill or to proceed on another topic. Data was collected through verbal and written reports from house staff. The data indicated that there had been…