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POSSIBLE JOB IDEAS FOR ADULTS WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME DISORDER

August 7th 2007

FROM:   THE FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME SUPPORT NETWORK OF NEW YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND INC. (FASSN*)

 These job ideas are based on ‘anecdotal’ information from the e-mail responses to the JOB SURVEY for adults with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder.  This list could be useful for parents, caregivers, job coaches, et al.

 JOB IDEAS FROM SURVEY

Note: Some of these jobs would be extremely difficult for many people with FASD. The degree of success would depend upon many factors including: support systems in place; interest levels of individual in job; ability to multi-task; ability to interface with public.

 To quote Bonnie Buxton “Each child is as different as a snowflake”.  Similarly, each adult is different as to what he or she can handle.

1. Landscaping (mowing and edging)

2. Dishwasher

3. Filing

4. Caretaker at a church

5. Licensed Massage Therapist

6. Janitorial work

7. Hotel front desk clerk

8. Library Assistant

9. Subway sandwich shop- make sandwiches

10. Clerk at Blockbuster

11. Worker in garden nursery

12. Dog washer at pet grooming place

13. Catering department worker in a major supermarket

14. Landscape assistant

15. Cashier at Burger King

16. Kitchen dish washer

17. Auto body repair- sanding mostly

18. Inventory work at retail stores

19. Floor person at retail stores

20. Cashier at major office depot

21. Bus driver (small bus)

22. Bus boy

23. Sales clerk at trendy clothing store

24. Waitress

25.  Kennel assistant

26. Youth camp counselor

27. Grocery bagging job

28. Personal Support Worker/Casual Dietary Aide at Special Care home

29. Computer technician

30. Resident technician at Staples

31. Movie theater-concessions, tickets, cleans, gift certificates

32. Assistant dance teacher for little kids; substitute teacher for older classes & warm up teacher

33. Bicycle repairman at a shop

34. Human Service worker-works with one of the brain injured youth

35. Food preparer in catering kitchen of big supermarket

36. Arborist (hired because he is a higher risk-taker than most)

37. Gas station attendant

38. CNA at a nursing home

39. Food service worker, small university campus dining room

40. Salt Water Disposal Attendant

41. Meter reader

42. Works with landscaping business

43. Works at an arcade/party club-sometimes manages the club on his own

44. Fast food chains.  *These jobs do not usually last long (1 day-3 months-6 months) because of various types of problems. Some individuals do not like the work because they consider it to be a dead-end job; others find the behind-the- counter multi-tasking too difficult. Some individuals find it difficult to interact with the public

45. Hollywood stunt man

46. Assistant manager of large party-arcade business. This young adult who has FAS handles the cash register, customer complaints, gift certificates, and minor arcade machine repairs. He also counts all the cash when the business closes.

Observations from e-mails:

1. It is ‘extremely’ important for job success that the young adult has a real interest in the job. 

2. Support and understanding of the employer is important in the workplace.

3. Employers need to understand that just because a person has worked in a job for a ‘while’ that does not mean that the employee will be able to take on higher level responsibilities or more tasks.

 *FASSN Inc.

Member of the New York State FAS TASK FORCE

An Affiliate of NOFAS (National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)