Growing into Adulthood with FASD A Personal Reflection

1
Growing into Adulthood with FASDA Personal
Reflection

• Sarah Kyser 27 yrs old
• Work Part Time for MRDD, Washing Busses
• 27 hrs week, Monday Friday, 730am-130pm
• Driving since 21 limited places
• Live independent, own my own home (2 yrs in
  August)
• Manage bills and checking account with very
  little help
• Diagnosed with FAE (ARND)

2
Beginning

• Placed with my foster mom at 4 months
• Adopted at 11 months

3
Grade School Years

• Enjoyed pre-school and kindergarten
• Had learning problems right away in first grade
• Changed to Mary Immaculate, small school for
  children with learning disabilities. Finished 2nd
  grade it was still too difficult
• Moved to Sylvania to go to school
• Did well in the 2nd grade behavior class, it had
  strict rules
• Mainstreamed in fourth grade
• Had banana peels thrown at me and my friends
  during lunch
• Moved back to behavior class with friends stayed
  until junior high

4
Junior High Years

• CHANGE is DIFFICULT
• Changed Schools, Changed Classes
• It was hard, frustrating, made me angry
• Started to have anger outburst at school
• 7th Grade I was still in a behavior class
• I learned a routine to deal with my anger
• 8th grade I moved out of behavior class!

5
High School

• Scared, another MAJOR CHANGE
• Had a few friends, learning how to be friends was
  hard it still is
• Was in small classes, and some inclusion classes
• First trip to the hospital for depression
• Started working, but had social issues on the
  jobs
• Started having anger outbursts at home
• Went to jail twice, then I was put on probation
  that helped!
• Attended some dances and my senior prom
• Graduated with my degree on time!!!

6
Just Beyond High School

• Applied and accepted into the PACE program
• National-Louis University, Evanston Ill campus
• Program for people 18-31 with multiple learning
  disabilities
• Teaches independent living
• Learn how to make friends, and actually make
  friends
• Job Assignments to learn work experiences
  
• Came home just before end of 1st quarter
• Hard to adjust making decisions on my own
• My mother always helped me to understand and make
  decisions

7
Transition after High School

• Had to find work
• Continued to try for my driver license
• BVR helped me find jobs, but not the right ones
• Laundry service at Toledo Hospital
• Timed you folding sheets, so many per minute
• Two women got into fight that really scared me
• Food Prep at Senior Retirement Home
• Added in waitress type service
• Added in full time for first three weeks
• Lot of stress trying different jobs

8
Too Much Stress in an Adult World

• Went to counseling for a lot of years
• Learned ways to control anger and stress
• Needed different medications
• Still wanted to die, still too much stress
• Had many trips and time in the hospital

9
Finally Moving Forward

• Graduated from the Genesis daily group program
• Participated in the New Horizons social program
• Medications were adjusted and checked regularly
• Settled in a familiar job at Krogers, bagging
• Learned to handle stress without hurting myself
• Didnt want to go back to hospital
• Finally got my drivers license after 5 years!

10
On My Own

• Moved out on my own the hard way (behavior
  issues), but it worked, I grew up!
• Things I learned at home before moving out
• Writing checks, balancing my account
• Budgeting money to paying bills
• Grocery shopping
• Housekeeping, Laundry, Cooking
• Getting myself to work on time
• Using the bus eventually driving
• Started saving and taking classes for my house
• Difficult to be by myself, alone, at times
• Parents still help when needed

11
Still Learning

• Had to leave Krogers after 2 ½ years, started
  coming in late and calling off too much
• Was unemployed for six months, taught me a lesson
• Hired at Georgettes Grounds and Gifts as a bean
  roaster (company for people with disabilities)
• Job was eliminated at the end of Dec 08, after
  3yrs
• Started in Jan 09 at the MRDD, now at the bus
  garage
• Tried to stop taking my meds, changes my behavior
• Angry, irritable, depressed, mean

12
Future Goals

• Learn how to keep a positive relationship with my
  boyfriend
• Get married, but Im not sure about children yet
• Get new counter tops in my house, closet doors,
  and a garage