Adults with FASD Living Experience Plan

For adults with FASD, the plan shifts toward interdependence: structured support that helps the person function well without expecting them to do everything alone. Adults often need help with housing, money, work, appointments, transportation, and routines, and the most effective approach is usually concrete, repetitive, and supportive rather than punitive.

Adult FASD plan

Area	What to focus on	Why it helps
Daily structure	Keep a predictable rhythm for waking, meals, work, chores, rest, and appointments	Reduces overwhelm and helps follow-through
Communication	Use short, concrete language; put instructions in writing; repeat key points	Adults with FASD often miss or forget verbal details
Money management	Use bill-pay systems, payee support if needed, spending limits, and a budget notebook	Money problems are common and often need external structure
Housing	Use supported housing, roommate support, family check-ins, or case management	Many adults do best with some level of built-in support
Work	Use job coaching, predictable tasks, clear expectations, and vocational support	Helps with retention and reduces avoidable
Health care	Bring reminders, use written plans, and invite a support person to appointments	Follow-through is often easier with a second set of eyes and ears
Emotional regulation	Teach calming strategies, sensory tools, movement breaks, and coping routines	Supports self-regulation and lowers crisis behavior
Safety	Plan for relationships, online use, transportation, and community risk	Adults with FASD can be vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe choices
Social support	Build a small, reliable circle of helpers, mentors, family, or peers	Interdependence is a strength, not a weakness

Practical home/life strategies

• Put routines on paper or in phone reminders.
• Keep important items in the same place every day.
• Use one-step directions and repeat them calmly.
• Break chores and errands into small pieces.
• Use visual calendars, alarms, and checklists.
• Avoid assuming that “knows how” means “can do consistently.”

What to remember

For adults, success often looks less like independence and more like a stable support network that protects dignity while filling in skill gaps. The goal is not to do everything for the person, but to create enough structure that the person can participate well in real life.