Memory: Keep a calendar on the wall in the kitchen with all appointments or important info. Each day needs a lot of space. He checks the calendar daily. Print notes (i.e. for tasks) with bullets beside each point to check off when it is completed. (age 20)

Remind him a lot!(age 20)

I phone and remind him of appointments, either the day before or the day of.(age 19)

Repetition, repetition, repetition.(age 19)



Reading Comprehension: I pay for [name of son] text messaging on his cell phone and he uses the internet to talk to friends. I always give him spelling or decode words (in syllables) for him immediately when asked, so he doesn’t get frustrated and he trusts me that I won’t make it a teachable moment (that only made him crazy at school). Now he is reading and writing.[and] has learned to spell words and decode many words and is much more receptive to communicating in print. (age 19)

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Living Independently: Trying to develop habits (taking out the garbage every night before bed) in place of the internal motivation that's lacking. (age 18)

Placing the bed and box spring directly on the floor, so items couldn't accumulate underneath (her idea!).(age 18)

Using see-through plastic bins or open hanging storage units, so that she could see her clothes.(age 18)

Buying "non-break" dishes and other household items.(age 18)

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Waking from Sleep: Most times I would call him on his cell phone or in person I would do the following: when I wake him, I explain the reason, .You wanted to go to the movies and it is one hour before you want to go.. Then I ask him if he wants me to wake him up again in 5 minutes. The next time I wake him (in 5 minutes), I say, "Five minutes have passed and you wanted to wake up". (age 20)



Self Confidence and Esteem: We casually speak of FASD often regarding him and others as I am so interested in learning about it. I point out his behavior (days after an incident) and explain how it is typical of FASD or I ask him to explain. I point out his good qualities over and over with great awe. For example, he has an amazing visual memory. I make a big fuss over this skill every time he uses it i.e. finds a lost object. I say how rich we would be if we could find a way to make money from his giftedness. I brag about it to others in front of him. I have overheard him tell others that he is dumb in school but he is really smart at other things like visual memory. (age 17-20)



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Managing Money: Letting [my] child know that I was doing the big job of applying for Ontario Disability Support Payments, on condition that I [would] be her trustee and showing her the complicated forms involved. Also arranging for rent to be paid directly from ODSP. (age 18)

ODSP check goes to me; I put it in a joint account. I take out cash for housing. I take out cash for public transit. I transfer money into his account on Fridays for the weekend. I take him grocery shopping. (age 19)

Stressed the complexity of applying for ODSP and made an agreement that in return for my doing so, she would agree to have me as trustee. This was made easier because she'd been in a group home where they were trustee (and I was preferable). (age 18)

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Confabulation: I would prepare him for my question and then I would ask for the truth; then I would leave it for a day or so and ask again; then I would ask if he is lying. Sometimes it would take weeks before he admitted it was a lie. I never gave him reason to think I would get mad. I just wanted the truth.(age 20)

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Irritability: I do not get angry but I say, .I will talk to you about this later when you are feeling better. (age 18+)

A preventative strategy: we would avoid setting any precedents for activities we didn't want to have to deal with repeatedly, such as granting a stop at an ice-cream shop, or permission to open the car windows, or to touch the car's instrumentation. (age 18)

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Getting a Job: I focus on my son's special interests. My son likes food, so I signed him up for a kid's cooking school at a major grocery store. Now he works at a bakery. (age 18)

My son always wanted to be a pilot, so I would take him to the airport to be around planes. His love for the airport has led to him getting a job at the airport. (age 18)