FASD Employment Survey

Job Ideas for Adults Who Have FASD

August 7, 2006

 The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Support Network of 

New York City and Long Island
(FASSN INC.)

These job ideas are based on ‘anecdotal’ information from the world-wide e-mail responses to the JOB SURVEY for adults who have a fetal alcohol syndrome disorder. This list could be useful for parents/caregivers/ job coaches, and young adults who have FASD.

Note: Some of these jobs would be extremely difficult for many people who have an 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”. In the same way, each adult “is as different as a tiny snowflake”.

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 cashier, customer complaints, gift certificates, and minor arcade machine repairs. He also counts all the cash when the business closes.

Observations from survey responses:
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. is a Member of the New York State FAS TASK FORCE
An Affiliate of NOFAS (National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)