Which of the following is an example of community-based instruction for students with intellectual disabilities?

• A. In-school simulations
• B. Reading textbooks
• C. Visiting a grocery store to practice shopping and money handling
• D. Solving math problems on worksheets

Answer: (C)

Community-based instruction focuses on teaching practical, everyday skills in real-world settings outside the classroom so students can apply what they learn in daily life. Visiting a grocery store to practice shopping and money handling gives a authentic context where the student can learn to read prices, compare items, budget, make purchases, handle cash, and communicate with store staff. These tasks are directly transferable to independent living and everyday routines, and they happen in the environment where the skills will be used, supporting generalization. In-school activities like simulations, reading textbooks, or solving math on worksheets stay within the classroom and target academic tasks rather than real-life application in the community, making them less representative of community-based instruction. This real-world shopping scenario best demonstrates learning that translates to daily living.