Caregiving – FASD (part 3)
3 steps to managing children with FASD
a) Recognize that FASD is a medical condition
– FASD is not a bad attitude
– it must be treated as a medical condition
– society has denied this reality of FASD and blames the indivivual
– “just sit down and behave” is unrealistic
– punishing a child with FASD for brain damage is useless
– society (homes, schools, treatment centres, hospitals, jail) seldom provide adequate supports
– children with visible handicaps receive more supports
b) Involve the individual with FASD in their management as early as possible
– often caregivers shield the individual from their diagnosis – shame, guilt
– best if the individual knows the truth
– care must be taken to not remove responsibility from the child for his actions (this is a delicate balancing act)
c) Discard or modify treatments that have previously failed
– the “usual” interventions fail because individuals with FASD cannot learn in the time given to them
– the individual lacks impulse control. boundaries, etc.
– interventions are too short term – caregivers give up too soon
– schools try to “mainstream” when the child is unable to cope behaviourally or socially
There is no single approach that is best for all FASD children!
Whatever approach is used, compassion is vital but it can become lost in the day to day struggles, challenges, failures and misbehaviours.