Hi! My name is Rob.

 

I am 31 years old. I was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome at birth and adopted by my parents when I was 11 months old.

Living with FAS has been difficult at times.

Special challenges for me
in school were:

Math - Writing –

• I could not think and write at the same time, I could not listen and write at the same time
• Writing took my total concentration
• Essay questions took too much effort, too much writing.

 

I could do better talking into a tape recorder.

Listening to lectures –

• I needed to tape record lectures, as I could not take notes

Middle School was especially hard because my locker was way over by the gym and my classes were on the other side of school. I had to carry everything I needed for the whole day in my backpack. My schedule was changed completely, three times in the first four days of school My parents had tried to help me learn my schedule before school started and we walked through it several times. With all the changes, the practice did not help.

There were two things that I remember helped me.

In high school one teacher would always write down, when we had a test, assignments in red on the chalkboard, The quizes would be in blue and the homework was in white.

I also was allowed to have one textbook at school and one that I could take home and write in and highlight important things.

I think this Chinese Proverb explains how I learn. I found it when I was in seventh grade And showed it to my mother. It is still true.

Tell me, I will forget

Show me, I may remember

Involve me, I will understand.

I think this proverb also influenced my choice of classes and jobs In my senior year of high school, I took a culinary arts class. I was so involved in the class that, at the end of the year I got the outstanding senior of the year award.

One job I had was working in a restaurant for four years. I had two bosses but unfortunately they both quit at the same time. So I called voc. rehab to help me explain my disability to my new boss. However because I had been successful in my job, my case was closed. By the time my case was reopened, I had lost my job.

One recent job I had was difficult for me because my boss didn’t understand my disability, she also didn’t seem to want to work with the job coach, it also seemed impossible for the job coach to make any sort of contact with her when there was a problem.

My Successes Include

• Feeling good about who I am
• Parents look to me for hope
• Being kind and helpful
• Keeping myself safe
• Held two different jobs for four years, each
• Saved for a car for ten years AND paid cash

Three years ago my parents and I moved from the home I had lived in for 28 years. The reason was that my parents are getting older and there are no group homes for people with an average IQ. I need help with organization, paying bills, keeping a home clean and keeping myself safe. I need some kind of supervised independent living but it doesn’t exist. My sister and brother-in law said that they would be there to support me when my parents passed away. I was very reluctant and stubborn when it came time to move. Now I am more used to it.

If I were applying for a job today these are some things I would want a new boss to know about me I can be easily distracted I have trouble remembering verbal instructions

• It helps if things are written down I also have trouble remembering several tasks or a task with several parts
• Sometimes I try to do too many things at once and find myself not finishing what I start I sometimes have trouble pacing my work
• It helps if I can work along side someone or if someone can share the work with me

My strengths are:

• I am very reliable, dependable and punctual
• I am creative
• I am always willing to help others

I have learned to cope with my disability, but I don’t want you to be at peace with FAS. I need you to make changes to help, children and teens as well as other adults.

These are some of the things I want you to try and change

• I would like everyone to understand FAS / FAE /FASD
• I would like every child to be able to get a diagnosis early, like I did
• I would like for teachers to know of ways to help students like me - Ask the student what would help him.
• I would like for employers to understand what might make the job easier for people with FAS / FAE

Some of the ways I have been helping spread the message about FAS is:

• My bumper stickers,
• The Video – Students Like Me
• Teaching people with FASDs what to do if they are stopped by the police and talking to people like you
• Also Dad and I wrote a program to help young adults and adults with FASD who find themselves in the justice center - check it out!

Thank you. --Rob Wybrecht

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