Understanding and Caring for Adults and Adolescents with FASD
Understanding and Caring for Adults and Adolescents with FASD
An essential 1 day workshop facilitated by Ms. Theresa Grech
Date: Feb 7, 2012 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Sprott-Shaw Abbotsford Campus, 33655 Essendene Avenue, Abbotsford
FASD is an invisible disability. The challenges with learning and functioning experienced by the person living with FASD are caused by brain damage. Although individuals learn strategies to cope with their everyday challenges, the brain damage is permanent. The prenatal effects of alcohol vary and therefore the strengths and needs of those living with FASD vary widely and may fluctuate from day to day and situation to situation. Supports need to responsive, respectable, creative, and flexible. All individuals have strengths that need to be recognized, identified and nurtured.
This workshop focuses on the needs of adolescents and adults living with FASD.
Topics covered will include the following:
- A very brief history of FASD
- Understanding the conditions included under the FASD umbrella: What is FAS? What is FAE? What is ARND?
- The relationship between FASD and developmental disability
- FASD as a spectrum - how different people are differently affected; Importance of early detection and intervention; Primary vs Secondary disabilities
- FASD and the Brain
- Working with challenging behaviours:
- Understanding the behaviour
- Reframing judgements
- Nontraditional behaviour management techniques
- Environmental strategies
- Applying the CARES model (Wright & Associates)
- Psychiatric support strategies
- The critical importance of collaboration amongst members of a client's care network
The workshop will be highly interactive, with opportunities for participants to meet fellow caregivers, to ask questions, discuss their existing or new knowledge and practice new skills.
About the presenter: Theresa Grech has worked with adolescents and adults with FASD, PDD, and developmental disabilities, and their caregivers and families for fifteen years, in the capacity of counselor, behavioural therapist, and educator. She has a Master’s in Counselling Psychology, is registered with the Canadian Counselling Association, and is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner registered with the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services. Additionally, she is co-director of Functional Dynamics, a group specializing in the provision of behavioural and counseling services to people living with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness. With strong interests in family and caregiver support, Theresa has researched and developed PEGI, a psychoeducational group intervention, an 8-week group based program for families and caregivers supporting individuals with various challenges.