nineteen years on the jobPart 2 of a 2-part article by Lindy Dunagan-Groger [Volume 12 Number 2 (June 2002) features part 1 of this article]n the year that Michael turned 18 I transitioned into a new set of I am an organized documentation- issues — those of parenting and being
person; I have kept all those papers and
a young adult. This included officially obtaining disability status for Michael with is the name of the game. I can honestly
the state of Washington. Lindy took on
tell you I had to provide every piece of
the challenge of finding financial support for Michael in this new phase with great vigor. She is pursuing vocational training, appropriate social experiences, and useful and enjoyable daily activities for Michael. Here are some of her specific suggestions. Parents might find these ideas helpful as they prepare to move into this phase of the journey with their older child with FAS.
Prepare for your transition to the adult
ficult for the caregiver. I want to warn
all in a handy-dandy file, and every time
everyone — the year your child turns 18
it in the file. During the transition year,
I had to have the following — others may
extremely stressful. I say this not to be
negative, but to toughen others up. It was my first time through this process, and
if I had not had a few people’s hands to
hold along the way, I wouldn’t have made
it. As I look back over these last 19 years,
with all that is required of us feels over-
don’t come after SSI has been awarded.
Birth certificates. They must be certi-
Social Security cards. My child didn’t
dual powers of attorney are available on
have one, so I had to get one for him.
reliable person who will be there across
ment, the SSI folks told me to get power
of attorney (I did), and then later they
stress that FAS is a lifelong, incurable
ent people said different things. It was
Legal papers like adoption, divorce,
SSI to be determined. This role does not
but helps fill the bill until the SSI status
is obtained. I thank the supervisor that
Open a representative payee checking
school psychologist you worked with.
how to do this is at the Social Security
You will need a current psychological
office. The number is 1- 800 -772 -1213.
site at www.ssa.gov/ on the Internet.
Apply to become your child’s legal
needs to be done is an accomplishment.
Continue to keep the records. Again,
ing certified copies ready to go. It can
be acknowledged as the source on al copies.
2 | iceberg | september 2002
september 2002 | iceberg | 3
support groups, your state offices of knew what fetal alcohol syndrome
public instruction, the ombudsman was. Initially these professionals
in the Governor’s office, and parent conducted a lot of research that
2 | iceberg | september 2002
september 2002 | iceberg | 3 Developed by Robin LaDue, Heather Carmichael-Olson, Sharon Beck and Sandra Clarren, 1996.Problems and Concerns
4 | iceberg | september 2002
september 2002 | iceberg | 5 Interventions
4 | iceberg | september 2002
september 2002 | iceberg | 5
support to young adults with FASDby Kieran O’Mal ey, M.D.
Canada, incorporate an assess-ment of functional ability, which
atric or medical disorders that need Scotia) are the least sensitive to the
disorder. The U.S. has the National Trusteeship
linked to the original province that Association of Dually Diagnosed
determined by IQ, so a young adult forms are still outdated, dealing
6 | iceberg | september 2002
september 2002 | iceberg | 7 Substance Use During Pregnancy: Effects on Infants, Mothers & Children
This program is an essential part of long-term plan-
ning and is normally obtained through the local
developmental disability organization, church groups
or by word-of-mouth. There is a general dearth of
mental health housing in Canada. The mental health
housing providers are really quite disconnected from
the needs of this dual-diagnosis population where the psychiatric disorder is often the crux of the matter. Understanding and Working with FAS/FAE
A number of helpful adult programs throughout
Canada have developed from the experience of
working with young adults with autistic spectrum
disorders. Unfortunately, the Adult Canadian Mental
Health Services do not incorporate FASD as a chronic neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric population. Practical Strategies for Perinatal Substance Abuse Intervention
There is very little systematic support. Some voca-
tional colleges have job coaches, but they appear to
Contact: Kathryn Shea, 941/371-8820;
be too busy to deal with this population of impulsive, distractible and easily bored young adults. Recently a pilot project in Alberta has created FAS advocates or
Reclaiming Our Voices 4
mentors, which may enter into this vital role.
A number of these programs are running in Manitoba
and Alberta. They are modeled on Seattle’s Parent-Child Advocacy Program (PCAP). The Canadian programs vary in effectiveness. No organized parent
Drinking & Pregnancy: Evidence
support after the child is three years old. & Responses November 8, 2002
The high number of adults with FASD in prison has
been systematically quantified and published in a
recent book, FAS and the Criminal Justice System 2000, by J. Conry and D. Fast. Native/First Nations communities are using “sentencing circles” in west-ern provinces. A recent peer-support program in the
upcom FAS Summit 2002
Yukon funded by the Crime Prevention Investment
Fund is dealing with First Nations teenagers and
women 15 to 30 years of age with FAS/FAE. Dr. O’Malley is a psychiatrist and Acting Assistant Profes-If you know upcoming events our readers sor at the University of Washington and is affiliated with may want to know about, e-mail us at iceberg_fas@yahoo.com. the Fetal Alcohol & Drug Unit, Seattle, WA. He has a small community psychiatric practice in Calgary, AB, Canada, dealing with FASD and austistic spectrum disor-der patients.
6 | iceberg | september 2002
september 2002 | iceberg | 7 to ICEBERG of ICEBERG ar ticles
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nineteen years on the jobPart 2 of a 2-part article by Lindy Dunagan-Groger [Volume 12 Number 2 (June 2002) features part 1 of this article]
n the year that Michael turned 18
I transitioned into a new set of I am an organized documentation-