Building Independent Life Skills (ADLs)
Independence isn’t built overnight—it’s built step-by-step through the skills that make up daily life. At Brightstone, we teach Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) through real-world practice, mentorship, and community immersion. These skills give young adults the confidence, capability, and resilience they need to live on their own terms.
Why ADLs Matter
ADLs are the building blocks of self-sufficiency—things like managing money, cooking a meal, keeping a home, or staying on top of health and wellness. Mastering them doesn’t just make life easier—it makes life richer, more connected, and more self-directed.
7 Core Skills We Build
Financial Literacy: Budgeting, tracking expenses, saving, understanding credit, and making smart financial choices.
Cooking & Meal Prep: Planning meals, shopping for groceries, cooking nutritious recipes, and batch prepping for the week ahead.
Time Management: Using calendars, setting priorities, building routines, and staying on track without feeling overwhelmed.
Household Management: Cleaning, laundry, organization, and basic home maintenance.
Personal Health & Wellness: Exercise routines, mindfulness practices, and making informed choices about nutrition and self-care.
Communication Skills: Active listening, conflict resolution, networking, and self-advocacy.
Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Breaking down challenges into steps, learning from past experiences, and building confidence in personal choices.
Our Hands-On Approach
We believe skills stick best when they’re applied in real life. That means cooking in our shared kitchens, learning budgeting while grocery shopping, and practicing conflict resolution during actual community interactions. Our mentors provide guidance every step of the way, but the learning belongs to the young adults—so they can own their success.
See how daily life at Brightstone helps young adults put these skills into action.