Abstracts Psychology

“The system is not set up for individuals with FASD”: Lived and Caregiver Perspectives Regarding Current and Ideal Housing Supports for Canadian Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

by Siann Gault

Past work has demonstrated adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) often require lifelong support with daily life activities. However, very little is understood regarding daily living supports for adults with FASD, and current research has heavily relied on proxy-reports rather than lived experiences. To promote self-determination in the provision of support for adults with FASD, the current study highlights both the perspectives of Canadian adults with FASD living in a variety of arrangements as well as caregivers who support adults with FASD to examine: 1) current ways adults with FASD are supported with daily life activities, and 2) ideal future living arrangements and supports for adults with FASD. Adults with FASD who live in housing with supportive services (n = 4) or at home with caregivers (n = 7), and caregivers of adults with FASD who live at home (n = 11) participated in semi-structured interviews using Zoom video call software. The framework method was used to thematically analyze the responses of adults with FASD and caregivers, separately. A combination of deductive and inductive analyses revealed a collection of themes organized by: 1) current ways adults with FASD are supported in their daily life activities, 2) perspectives of adults with FASD regarding positive and negative aspects of their current living arrangement, and 3) ideal living arrangements and daily living supports discussed by adults with FASD and caregivers, including caregiver concerns regarding future living arrangements for the adults with FASD they support. This study offers insight into the perspectives of adults with FASD regarding their daily living support, which is critical to inform future supported housing and support self-determination. Findings highlight a pressing need for policy change directed towards developing FASD-informed, affordable, available, and appropriate housing supports for adults with FASD.