By using these strategies, you can effectively teach a community-based curriculum in a severe classroom setting, and help students with disabilities acquire the functional skills they need to be successful in the real world. Remember to identify community resources, identify individual needs, develop lesson plans, prepare students for community outings, teach safety skills, use visual supports, incorporate technology, and collaborate with community partners. 
Collaborate with community partners, such as local businesses and organizations, to create opportunities for students to practice skills. For example, work with a local coffee shop to create a job-shadowing opportunity for students. 
Incorporate technology to make learning more engaging and interactive. For example, use educational apps or videos to practice social skills. 
Use visual supports to help students understand concepts and make connections between ideas. For example, use picture schedules or task analysis charts to help students understand routines and tasks. 
Teach safety skills that are relevant to community outings. For example, teach students how to cross the street safely and what to do in case of an emergency. 
Prepare students for community outings by practicing skills in the classroom first. For example, practice ordering food in a role-playing activity before going to a restaurant. 
Develop lesson plans that incorporate community-based activities and address individual goals. For example, plan a trip to a local store to practice budgeting and purchasing items. 
Identify the individual needs of each student and create goals based on those needs. For example, if a student needs to learn how to order food in a restaurant, create a goal that focuses on communication skills. 
Start by identifying community resources that can be used to teach functional skills. For example, grocery stores, restaurants, and banks can be used to teach money management skills. 
Teaching a community-based curriculum is an effective way to help students with severe disabilities learn functional skills in a real-world context. In this slideshow, we will discuss strategies for teaching a community-based curriculum in a severe classroom setting, and provide examples to help you get started.
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