What is Adaptive Functioning

Self-care skills are the everyday tasks undertaken so children are ready to participate in life activities. While they are typically supported by parents or carers in young children, it is expected that children develop independence while getting older and maturing. Self-care skills are assumed as precursors for most school-related tasks, are expected to be performed independently, and usually it becomes inappropriate for others to assist for tasks related to these. Assistive technology enhances to strengthen children's ability to participate in eating, dressing, bathing, and personal hygiene routines. As a self-management tool, assistive technology helps children with pervasive developmental disorders or mild intellectual disabilities promote to perform daily tasks involved in activities related to self-care skills. In this chapter, first, information about self-care problems with a focus on children with pervasive developmental disorders is given. Then, opportunities, challenges, and assistive tools are presented. Finally, future research directions in this domain are stated.