Life skills for our kiddos should always be of great importance in order to really prepare them for things that applicable to their own needs and daily functioning. Below is a good resource for understanding the importance and the ins and outs of LIFE SKILLS for individuals with special needs.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Life_Skills_Mastery/?page=2
"Life skills
are essential to job functioning, and they must be included in
instruction for students with special needs. Several million individuals
with learning problems are still denied the opportunity to engage in
meaningful employment in the United States. Large numbers of students
with disabilities, both high school graduates and dropouts, earn very
low salaries (Edgar, 1988). These students do possess the potential to
live and work in the community if they receive appropriate life skills
instruction (Rusch & Phelps, 1987). However, without this
instruction they often fail to hold their jobs. A life skills curriculum
approach blends academic, daily living, personal/social, and
occupational skills into integrated lessons designed to help students
learn to function independently in society."
