Transitions at BCSSSD is committed to assisting our young adults in becoming contributing and valued members of society.  Community Based Instruction (CBI) provides the availability of age-appropriate instructional environments for our young adults aged 18-21. A key to CBI is to offer experiences across settings and time periods to promote generalization. CBI is designed for students that need intensive instruction in functional and daily living skills. 

CBI activities can focus upon varying skills, such as functional academics, community awareness, communication, personal management, safety, recreation/leisure, and career/vocational exploration. Concepts and skills that are introduced in the classroom are then applied and practiced in natural environments in the community using CBI. CBI experiences allow students to do things in the natural environment, which will provide educational relevancy for the young adult. 

Benefits of Community-Based Instruction:

1. Promotes inclusion or integration in real environments with peers and community members 

2. Provides a variety of experiences

3. Responds to natural consequences and criteria

4. Enhances life experience

5. Provides access to age-appropriate environments and materials 

6. Provides LRE

7. Identifies individual strengths, preferences, and interests

8. Assists in improved self-determination skills 

9. Provides opportunities for social and interpersonal communication

Goals of Community-Based Instruction:

1. Identify learning objectives 

2. Provide a variety of hands-on learning opportunities

3. Be developmentally appropriate 

4. Assess student performance, including self-assessment                       

5. Independent Living Skills

6. Personal Management Skills

7. Link to the student’s next work-based learning experience 

8. Provide links between classroom learning and professional expectations

9. Linkages to Adult Support Services

10. Job Development and Site Identification

11. Job Coaching