All statistics come from the book, Understanding the Occurrence of Secondary Disabilities in Clients with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) by Ann Streissguth at the University of Washington. This book has helped us tremendously. Anns web site is: http://depts.washington.edu/fadu/
Learning to be a good worker is very important. The better worker you are, the more money you make. Also usually the more education you have the more money you make.
The more money you have the higher standard of living you can enjoy:
The more rent you can pay:
Nicer the neighborhood
Less chance of gangs
Less obvious drug and alcohol problems
Lower crime rate
Less prostitution
You feel safer this is even more of a concern if you are married or have children
More or nicer stuff
o Food
o Vehicle
o Recreation
o Giving
o Can mean more time
You might have to work two jobs in order to have enough money, if your pay rate is too low
Ways to get money:
Job
o Usually the harder you work the more you make
o Often the more educated you have the more you make
o In both of these, ability or skill counts
Gift
o Cant count on it
Government
o Social Security
o DD services
o Mental Health Services
- All of these have requirements for eligibility
- All of these have rules you must follow
Dependent Living- there is nothing wrong with needing help. There is something wrong with not accepting help if you need it and if it is available.
Help can come from:
Family
o Parents often help their children
o Siblings or other relatives
Government Programs such as:
° Social Security
° DD Services
° Mental Health
° Federal, State, Local programs
Private
o Church
o Organizations
o Institutions
Reasons people with FASD fail to be able to live on their own:
(These are not given to discourage someone, but to show them what areas they need to work on.) The % represents how many people require help or supervision accomplishing the task- sometimes or frequently.
3% getting dress
24% public transportation
37% hygiene
47% staying out of trouble
47% structuring leisure time
48% cooking meals
o If you ate conservatively at a fast food restaurant every meal it would cost you $675. a month
o It is important to eat well so you will be healthier and not have to miss work
52% grocery shopping
58% interpersonal relationship
68% getting medical care
70% getting social services
78% making decisions
83% managing money
Type of employment problems experienced while on the job. This is why 80% of those with FASD lose their job.
65% easily frustrated
58% poor task comprehension
55% poor judgment
53% social problems
42% unreliable
42% anger management
40% problems with supervisor
33% lying
If you lose your job you cant live on your own, because you will not be able to pay your bills.
In our home we have set up jobs for our children to do. Every time they have behavior problems or do not do the job, we point out that specific action could get them fired. If they get fired then they cant live on their own. Their boss at work does not want to deal with their behavior or emotional problems.