Assess each student's current circumstances and the level of help each student needs to meet the activities of daily living. Expect this level of assistance to vary from student to student. Liaise with others who are closely involved with the student, including his parents or caregivers. Check to see if the students are taking their prescribed medications and if they have recently been assessed by experts, such as a psychologist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist.
Simulate everyday situations in the classroom or special school. Take the students on trips to stores and places of entertainment. Stand back and let them make arrangements, for instance, planning and budgeting their shopping as well as booking tickets for a show. Teach basic communication skills, particularly appropriate body language. Role play situations in the classroom. Ask the students to take turns to a) deal with a neighbor who is complaining about the noise level or b) register a complaint to a store.
Help the students to develop their life skills. Many centers for special education have an apartment or set of rooms where students can practice homemaking and cooking. This can be the ideal transition from supported living to more independence. Teach the students how to deal with emergencies and how to stay safe.
Teach the students to take small gradual steps toward independence, as rushed transitions can cause failures, thereby leading to regression in some students. Make sure that you have an operative support system and that the students know who to call if they need assistance.