Adaptive behavior and skills important to community use

Community skills typically have been conceptualized as falling into several distinct goal areas. This chapter encompasses all of the varied definitions of community and provides strategies for helping individuals develop adaptive skills that increase their involvement, participation, and independence in the community. The Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II is a comprehensive measure that includes 10 adaptive skill areas, including a community use adaptive skill area, which measures a range of skills that cut across the broad goal areas identified in the literature. These skills generally cluster into four areas: travel, using services, community safety, and appropriate behavior in the community. Examples of the types of community use adaptive skills measured in the ABAS-II for each goal area are listed. Skills listed in the ABAS-II are samples of the broad array of adaptive skills needed to function successfully in various community settings.