Individualizing the LIFE Curriculum to Establish Flexible Cooking Skills in a Neurodivergent Young Adult

Burke et al. (2024) worked with one neurodivergent young adult.

They rewrote the LIFE skills curriculum around that person’s interests.

The team used a multiple-baseline design across three cooking tasks.

Sessions happened in the learner’s own kitchen.

The young adult mastered every recipe.

Skills stayed high weeks later.

Vocational behaviors, like asking for help, also improved.

Danon et al. (2025) ran a group cooking class over Zoom.

Both studies show big gains, so the method matters less than the content.

Lattimore et al. (2009) taught job skills to non-vocal adults with one day of simulation.

Burke’s longer, home-based approach extends that idea to younger, verbal learners.

Preas et al. (2021) trained parents to teach daily-living skills.

Burke flips the lens: teach the learner directly, then let parents watch.

You can copy Burke’s recipe.

Pick one functional skill, tailor the materials to the client’s favorite foods, and run short baselines.

No extra staff or clinic space is needed.

Try it on Monday with a microwave task and a data sheet.