Here’s an overview of necessary phone skills:

Answers the phone when someone calls

• Answers “Where are you?”

Texts:

• Receive texts
• Check when notification alert
• Motivation? Accesses preferred item from text (e.g., go get yourself a cookie)
• Follows other instructions via text
• Respond back “ok”

Send texts

• When arrived at a specific location (e.g., “here”)
• Understanding texting language
• Emojis
• Email
• Social media tools on phone
• Reference calendar on phone
• Find calendar
• Find correct date
• Reference activities for specific dates
• Follows schedule/keeps appointments
• Program in new activities

Abides by phone rules (e.g., don’t call or text someone too often, return voicemails, texts, etc.)

Safe phone skills

Here’s some programs that we’ve used to teach cell phone use in the community.