What it is? This is when young people take what they learn in school and use it in other contexts, such as the workplace or social settings. Not only should young people with developmental disabilities be encouraged to strive for academic success but also the ability to approach learning with a strategy for success.

What it looks like? Activities around learning include initial and ongoing skills assessment, both formal and informal; initial and ongoing career and vocational assessment, both formal and informal; identification of one's learning styles, strengths, and challenges; creation of a personal development plan; contextual zed learning activities such as service-learning projects in which youth apply academic skills to community needs; monitoring of and accountability for own grades and creation of a continuous improvement plan based on grades and goals; showcase of work highlighting a youth's learning experience - an essay, painting, algebra exam, etc.; development of a formal learning plan that includes long- and short-term goals and action steps; group problem-solving activities; preparation classes for GED, ACT, SAT, etc.; and peer tutoring activities that enhance the skills of the tutor and the student.

Click on the arrow link below to move on to the next area - Connecting .