Community Based Instruction

We look forward to making memories in the community with you!

Larc student at the supermarket selecting apples in the produce section

What is CBI? CBI (Community Based Instruction) is educational instruction in naturally occurring community environments. It provides students with “real life experiences.”

What is the purpose of CBI?

The goal of CBI is to provide hands on learning opportunities to help students acquire the skills used in the world today on a regularly scheduled basis.

CBI is designed to provide natural teaching opportunities for Daily Living Skills practice. Concepts and skills are introduced in the classroom and then applied and practiced in natural environments in the community using CBI.

Larc student with a fireman watching how a hose works

What are the benefits of CBI?

  • Promotes inclusion or integration in real environments with peers and community members
  • Provides and enhances a variety of “real-life” experiences
  • Provides access to age-appropriate environments and materials
  • Identifies students’ individual strengths, preferences, and interests
  • Provides opportunities for social and interpersonal communication
  • Enhances opportunities for choice and participation with non disabled peers
  • Promotes functional skills
  • Helps facilitate independence

What’s the difference between a CBI activity and a Field Trip?

CBI Activity

  • Functional
  • IEP-based
  • To practice a life skill
  • Has well-defined objectives
  • Takes place in a small groups
  • High student to staff ratio (all students are 1:1 with staff for CBI trips)

Field Trips

  • Fun/Pleasurable
  • Curriculum-based
  • Relates to subject matter/exposure
  • In large group
  • Lower student to staff ratio

Male Larc student selecting items in a supermarketHow does CBI work at Larc?

Classroom teachers in conjunction with the CBI instructor will determine a trip location based on student goals and current instructional concepts. The teacher will prepare students for the trip prior to trip day with background information and skills needed to be successful in the community. CBI trips will be attended by the classroom teacher, classroom staff, therapists (if applicable), individual student nurses (if applicable), and CBI instructor, Christy Seaver.

Most CBI trips occur once or twice a month. Parents will be provided with notification prior to trips. All students must have a signed permission slip.

How do we ensure safety?

  • Safety is discussed with team during CBI planning for location selection.
  • We assess the mobility and behavioral needs of the students going on the outing.
  • We determine what level of support is going to be needed to complete the IEP objectives during the outing.
  • Continue to implement the behavior intervention plan or positive intervention strategies according to the IEP.
  • CBI instructor carries all emergency contact information and a first aid kit.
  • CPR/ AED and epi-pen certified staff member attends all trips.
  • Larc Staff wears easily identifiable Larc clothing on trips.

Community Based Expreiences (CBE) is educational instruction provided in naturally occurring community environments and provides students with “real life experiences.”  CBE also provides intensive instruction in functional and daily living skills for those students who need it.

Concepts and skills that are introduced in the classroom are applied and practiced in natural environments in the community, allowing students to see, hear, smell and do things in the very settings they will be participating in as they grow and mature.  Doing things in natural environments helps students to generalize their classroom learning in novel settings.

When instruction is conducted with actual materials in natural environments, students progress towards independence at a greater rate.  CBE provides natural opportunities for learning and practicing skills that are useful and meaningful for the individual student.

Teaching functional skills in the community provides an important bridge for students with disabilities to their communities, and prepares them for leaving school and entering adult life in the community.

What About Academics?

Reading, writing, language, social teaching, and other academic subjects are incorporated into functional activities. CBE doesn’t take the place of a student’s academic learning, but complements it to provide a range of experiences that help them apply the learning they do in school settings in the home and community.