The following tips & strategies were designed to help educators working with children affected by FASD. As you scroll down, you will see we have provided useful tips that may work with certain individuals, and for others, different strategies are required.
Decrease distractions by removing the clock in the classroom, the amount of wall displays and consider changing the lighting.
Consider using coloured paper once in a while. Pastel coloured paper (violet, green, yellow) can enhance the reading experience and students with FASD will certainly benefit.
Keep language, directions/explanations simple, clear and basic.
Use visuals: charts, agendas, posters, etc as reminders for work which needs to be completed and as reminders of work well done.
Give "bite size" instructions at one time, then continue to give more "bite-size" instructions when the first task is complete.
Remember to give a lot of praise!
Remind yourself of the child’s developmental age and work within those parameters and not the parameters of the child’s age.
Give the child/student more time to finish the requested task.
Directions may need to be repeated several times. Do not lose your patience. Have the child repeat to you what you have asked of them.
Always make sure you have eye contact with the child before asking something of them.
Have realistic expectations.
Reduce stimuli in areas that require concentration.
When doing work, cover the areas on hand outs that don't require the child’s attention.
Look for stimuli which may have caused a child to have an outburst.
FASD children benefit from hands-on learning. A high percentage are tactile/multi-modal learners.
Try buying clothes that are cotton or cotton mix. Children with FASD are irritated by synthetics. You may also want to take out the labels from their clothes which may also be irritants.
Always prepare the child for transitions. Transitions are difficult for children with FASD.
Use cue cards and laminate them for durability.
Keep areas clean and organised with little distractions.
Try to rotate toys and games every month by storing extras toys away in a cupboard therefore only keeping a minimal amount of toys to be used.
Use color codes for work and use one book or large binder (with already existing tabs or sections) for all work. This way the child only has to remember to bring one book home or to school.
Provide nutritional foods, not processed foods or processed sugars. Have vegetables/fruit always accessible for snack.
Use juices or water and not "cocktails juices".
Keep to the routine.Children with FASD do not do well out of their routines.
Always have a quiet/safe place for the child to go to in order for them to unwind. This is especially important when there are gatherings in the gym or other large areas.If what you are trying isn’t working, try something else, do not keep trying the same thing.
Remind yourself that it isn’t because they don’t want to, it's because they can’t.
