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IndependenceFirst Life Skills Class Syllabus
IndependenceFirst offers a variety of life skills classes and workshops on diverse topics to meet the changing needs of individuals with disabilities. Classes and workshops are taught on an individual basis or in a group setting. A curriculum was developed for high school students and is taught in collaboration with area high schools. Also offered are two financial literacy classes, Money Smart, a curriculum that provides financial literacy information as well as the steps and the resources available to purchase a home; and Rent Smart, a curriculum designed to provide practical education to help people find and maintain rental housing. Additionally, the Life Skills Class Topics are offered to organizations/agencies in the community who serve people with disabilities. If you have a specific request for other topics not listed here, let us know. For more information, please contact Marian Ecklund at 414-226-8310 by dialing the Wisconsin Relay Services at 711. Marian can also be reached via Email: mecklund@independencefirst.org.
A Job Club Curriculum, also included in this list, is available through our Benefits and Employment Department, by contacting Kristin Stern at 414-226-8332.
Life Skills Class Topics
Self Esteem
Learn how your self-esteem affects the way you live, how you think, act and feel about yourself and others and how successful you are in achieving your life goals. Get some ideas on how to build up your self-esteem.
Self Awareness
Gain a basic understanding about your self-concept; learn about your values, learn how your disability affects your daily life and how to make adjustments to your disability. Learn about your feelings and emotions.
Assertiveness Training
Learn the difference between passive and assertive communication. You will improve your ability to communicate needs, thoughts and feelings more effectively.
Communication
Learn about communication and understand what it means to be a good listener. Understand what the barriers are to good communication and learn what your communication style is. Learn techniques to communicate with your doctor.
Dealing With Stress
Learn and understand what stress is and its effects. Learn the common symptoms of stress and how to handle it.
Conflict and Anger Management
This class offers suggestions on how you can deal with conflict and anger. It will help you to learn different ways to avoid and resolve conflict. It teaches you how to handle anger from others, as well as from yourself.
Setting Goals and Making Decisions
This class teaches you the importance of having goals in your life and how to set both long-term and short-term goals. In addition you will learn different ways to make decisions and how to make the most of those bad decisions or choices that we sometimes make.
Too Close For Comfort: Boundaries and Personal Space
How do you know when others have crossed the line? Discuss abuse issues and what to do when someone (even relatives) crosses the line. Learn how to protect yourself through assertive and self-confident behaviors. Empower yourself by being informed and connecting with others.
Disability Awareness
This class looks at both how we accept ourselves and our disabilities and also looks at how other people perceive us, and how we can positively deal with prejudice, discrimination and negative attitudes of some people toward individuals with disabilities. Learn about famous people who have disabilities.
Speak Out: The Art of Advocacy
Learn how to become an advocate and stand up for your rights. Understand legislation and the legal rights of people with disabilities. Understand various systems, which affect people with disabilities and how to promote change within these systems.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
This session provides you with information on your rights under the ADA as well as other disability rights laws and legislation.
Avoiding Frauds and Scams
This class teaches you about some of the different types of frauds and scams that target individuals, especially those with disabilities. It will teach how to avoid becoming a victim and what to do if you have been scammed.
Dollars and Sense: Using Your Money Wisely
Learn how to develop a budget, gain information about banking and credit cards and how to make good purchase decisions.
Time Management
Learn how to make a schedule and you live with. Learn how to prioritize responsibilities and how not to get caught up in a trap of wasting time.
Home Management
Learn which are tenant and which are landlord responsibilities. Learn tips for saving energy and money. Learn housekeeping tips for people with disabilities; learn laundry tips, grocery shopping tips, food storage tips and cooking tips.
Housing and Home Buying
Learn the basics about how subsidized housing programs work. Learn how to apply and where you're local HUD sites are located. Also, learn the basics about homebuying programs available to assist individuals with disabilities in purchasing a home.
Assistive Technology
You've heard about adaptive equipment. How do you know what is right for you? How do you find resources for evaluating, funding and purchasing adaptive equipment? Let us know a little about you or your group and we will give you information tailored to meet your specific needs.
Hiring a Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
Learn how to hire a PCA. You will be instructed how to run help-wanted ads, conduct hiring interviews and train your attendant.
Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies
Learn how to prepare for a variety of emergency situations such as floods, fires, tornadoes and winter storms. Learn what supplies you should have on hand to stay prepared for different emergency situations.
Food For Thought: Wellness and Nutrition
Learn how to access the health care system and how to choose a doctor to meet your needs. Learn about nutrition, personal hygiene practices and the effects of aging on the senses. Understand the medications you are taking and get recommendations for how often you need check-ups. Participants learn about sexually transmitted diseases and how to avoid them.
Job Club Topics
Self-Presentation
This section will discuss presenting yourself in a positive light to potential employers and teaches how self-esteem affects your presentation. Find out what employers want to see in you!
How to Write a Resume
Get ready! We will work with you to develop and produce your resume. If you already have a resume but want to update it, bring it along.
Identifying Job Leads
Where and how do you look for a job? Here you will look at ways to find a job and how to understand help-wanted ads. You will also learn the many ways to look for a job.
Interviewing Techniques
What are your rights as a person with a disability who wants employment? What questions can an employer ask on an application and in the interview? How do you handle these and other tough interview questions?
I have the job, now what?
Many times people find that getting the job was the easy part. Now they have to try and keep the job. We will talk about the things you always wanted to know about how to keep your job.
Interview Day
During this session we will do a mock job interview. You will prepare as if it were a real interview. Afterward, there will be a group discussion on interviewing techniques used and whether or not there is room for improvement.
A Transition Program for Young Adults with Disabilities
Everything You Wanted To Know About Being An Adult…But Were Afraid To Ask
You Have The Right To… The ABC’s of Disability Laws
This class will provide you with information on your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as other Federal laws and legislation. Review The Student's Guide to the IEP.
Who Are You? A Lesson on Disability Awareness
This class looks at both how we accept ourselves and our disabilities and also looks at how other people perceive us, and how we can positively deal with prejudice, discrimination and negative attitudes of some people toward individuals with disabilities. Learn about famous people who have disabilities.
I Feel Good…Self Esteem
Learn how your self-esteem affects the way you live, how you think, act and feel about yourself and others and how successful you are in achieving your life goals. Get some ideas on how to build up your self-esteem.
Speak Out: The Art Of Self-Advocacy
Learn how to advocate for yourself by being assertive. Educate yourself on your rights and entitlements and learn about the Personal Bill of Rights. Learn procedures to follow to address a problem and how to obtain a successful solution.
Stand Up & Be Heard: Assertiveness Training
Learn the difference between passive and assertive communication. You will improve your ability to communicate needs, thoughts and feelings more effectively.
Yada, Yada, Yada, Communicating With Style
Learn how to effectively communicate to get what you want. Learn easy to follow conflict resolution techniques and a variety of good listening skills.
In Your Face: Dealing with Conflict and Anger
This class offers suggestions on how you can deal with conflict and anger. It will help you to learn different ways to avoid and resolve conflict. It teaches you how to handle anger from others, as well as from yourself.
Just In Time: Basic Time Management Skills
This class teaches you about time management including how to make a schedule, prioritize responsibilities and how not to get caught up in a trap of wasting time.
Charge It! A Lesson on Budgeting
Learn how to budget your money to do all the things that are important to you. Learn how to set up a budget that will work for you.
Empty Nest: It’s Time To Move Out!
Learn all about HUD; Section 8 Housing, Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers. Learn all the steps needed to move into your own apartment including how to choose a roommate, how much money you will need and "are the utilities included in the rent?"
Just One More Thing: The Final Step
Participants will review previous classes and then discuss community options and resources available. Learn how to identify appropriate resources in your community and how to contact them and the reality of "waiting lists" and how these lists may affect your moving plans.
Money Smart
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) brings the Money Smart curriculum to you. These classes are offered on a quarterly basis at IndependenceFirst and focus on financial literacy and the homeownership process. For more information, please contact Brian Peters at 414-226-8338 by dialing Wisconsin Relay Services at 711.
Bank On It
Provides you with an introduction to bank services.
Borrowing Basics
Provides you with an introduction to credit.
Check It Out
Learn how to choose and keep a checking account.
Money Matters
Learn how to keep track of your money.
Pay Yourself First
Teaches us why we should save, save, save.
Keep It Safe
Learn what your rights are as a consumer.
To Your Credit
Learn how your credit history will affect your credit future.
Charge It Right
Learn how to make a credit card work for you.
Loan To Own
Learn what you're borrowing before you buy.
Your Own Home
Learn what homeownership is all about.
Rent Smart
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) brings the Rent Smart curriculum to you. These classes are offered on a quarterly basis in our service area. These classes focus on educating individuals who are looking for rental housing by learning how to develop good relationships with landlords and reviewing tenants’ legal rights. For more information, please contact Marian Ecklund at 414-226-8310 by dialing Wisconsin Relay Services at 711.
Where Does The Money Go?
Provides guidance to participant on how to determine their monthly income and develop a record of their expenses so that they can determine how much they can afford for housing.
Developing A Spending Plan
Develop a spending plan to gain better control of where your money goes. Discuss how to reduce expenses and provides information on what to do in a financial emergency.
Making the Most of Your Credit Report
Learn how to get a copy of your credit report and learn ways to improve it.
Finding A Place To Live
Determine what is most important to you in a place to live, learn how to find affordable apartments.
Checking Out The Apartment And The Landlord
Provides tools to decide if you will be comfortable with the apartment and having a business relationship with a landlord.
The Rental Application
Learn about the techniques landlords use to screen applicants. Covers fair housing regulations, which are intended to control discriminatory screening practices.
Understanding Rental Agreements
Practice reading and understanding rental agreements.
Home Care: Who Is Responsible For What?
Determine repair responsibilities, including rental agreements, rental check-in forms, care, and repair responsibilities according to state regulations.
Home Care: Keeping It Clean and Safe
Learn basic tips on ways to keep your home clean with minimum effort. Gives information on how to handle home-care emergencies.
Communicating With Your Landlord And Neighbors
Emphasis is placed on effective verbal skills, writing letter of request and resolving conflicts with neighbors.
Moving On: Notice, Security Deposits and Evictions
Covers steps in ending a rental agreement. Deals with a common problem, security deposits. Briefly describes steps including evictions that landlords take if they want a tenant to move out.