The Student Summer Guide to Mastering Independence

Leveling up this summer: a guide to practicing life skills for students with disabilities ages 14–22.

Summer break is finally here! For students with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 22, summer is a great time to relax, but it is also the perfect time to practice the real-world skills you will need for the future.

Getting ready for life after high school takes practice, whether your goal is getting a job, going to college, or living on your own. Postsecondary transition planning is all about focusing on you—figuring out what you are good at, what you like, and what you need. With the extra free time summer brings, you can take big steps toward reaching your goals.

Here are some fun and easy ways to practice important life skills over the summer break:

1. Build Your “Utah Durable Skills”

Utah’s career programs talk a lot about “Durable Skills.” These are skills that will help you succeed in school, at work, and in life, no matter what job you want in the future. Summer activities, like a part-time job, community clubs, or volunteering, are great places to practice:

• Adaptability: Bouncing back when things get hard or when your summer plans suddenly change.
• Collaboration & Communication: Working well with others as a team and sharing information clearly with your friends, coworkers, or adults.
• Leadership & Professionalism: Helping to inspire others and acting in a way that builds trust and respect.

2. Practice Adult Living and Managing Your Time

Without a strict school schedule, summer is a great chance to practice everyday adult routines. High school-aged students can start taking on more responsibilities at home:

• Daily Life: Practice making and packing your own lunch, ordering your own food at a restaurant, and using a debit or credit card to buy things. You can also practice managing a budget and making a shopping list for the store.
• Managing Time: Since you don’t have a school bell telling you where to go, practice using an online calendar to schedule your summer fun. You can also set alarms on your phone to remind you to do things and make lists to keep track of your daily tasks.

3. Get Ready for a Job and Boost Your Tech Skills

Summer is a very popular time to think about jobs! You might have a summer job, an internship, or be taking classes to learn about careers.

• Job Skills: Spend some time creating or updating a resume. You can also practice answering interview questions and learn how to use a timecard for a job.
• Tech Skills: Practice sending emails the right way and saving your computer files so you can easily find them later. It is also very important to know how to safely use websites and learn how to tell the difference between reliable and fake information on the internet.

4. Explore Your Community Safely

Getting out and having fun is a big part of summer, but it is important to know how to be safe when you are out and about.

• Getting Around: Practice using public buses, trains, or ride apps by yourself. When you go to new places, always know how to identify a safe person to ask for help if you get lost or need assistance.
• Staying Healthy: Summer is a great time to focus on your health and wellness. Learn how to get your own medicine refilled. It is also an important time to learn about healthy relationships and understand what consent means.

5. Speak Up for Yourself and Handle Big Feelings

Summer brings new routines and activities, which can sometimes bring unexpected challenges. This makes it a great time to practice handling stress.

• Self-Advocacy: This simply means speaking up for yourself! Practice asking for what you need, explaining your disability, and communicating how people can best support you. This will help you become a leader in your own school meetings (like your IEP) when fall rolls around.
• Handling Feelings: When you face a hard task, try to use grit and don’t give up. Learn from your mistakes and practice using coping strategies when you feel stressed out in different summer settings.

Ready to Get Started?

Planning for your future is an exciting, ongoing journey! For more tips and helpful tools, explore the Students & Families section of the Utah Transition Elevated website. You can also check out the Transition Planning Hub in our Resource Center to find great resources for students and families.