Now in its fourth edition, this step-by-step guide to teaching everyday skills to children with special needs has been a popular resource for more than 20 years. Steps to Independence stems from the authors' belief that that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers. Based on years of work with parents, the book offers an easy-to-read, explicit program for teaching children with special needs the skills that will help them progress toward living as independently and happily as possible in the community.The strengths of the earlier editions--reader-friendly, well-organized, and stepwise presentations of potentially complicated subjects through illustrations, forms, and vignettes, and a touch of humor--are still reflected in the fourth edition. Section I cover the basics of teaching, while Section II address teaching skills in specific areas (get-ready skills, self-help skills, toilet-training, play skills, self-care skills, home-care skills, information skills). Section III breaks down the often difficult topic of dealing with behavior problems. Section IV addresses the ''computer revolution'' and the critical topic of partnering with teachers. The five appendices serve as reference guides for teaching specific skills.