Abstract
The objective of this study was to verify the effects of a functional curriculum for training severe handicapped students educational professional skills among all other adaptive skills. The subjects were four mentally retarded students (two male and two female) whose ages varied from 17 to 30 years old. Initially all subjects were submitted to a pre-test whose objective was to indicate their actual performance in all adaptive skills, that were trained in natural situations in the community at the same time they were trained work abilities, where job positions were available. Thus, subjects were trained not only the required skills for that specific job, but also how to go to work, how to communicate with their clients, how to deal with money, and so on. During the intervention period it was realized three evaluations within a two months intervals. The results showed that all subjects demonstrated significant improvements in adaptive skills areas and all of them were included in the community through their jobs. The study also discusses if segregated special schools are really necessary for this population.
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