Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Stories from Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Abstract

This study explored the school and life experiences of four adults diagnosed with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) from an urban area in western Canada. Semi-structured interviews provided insight into the lives of these adults, including their experiences with this disorder as it related to their social interactions and peer relationships in elementary school, high school, and the community. Their educational and life experiences were examined with the goal of understanding how success is achieved among these individuals. Three major themes emerged from participant interviews: (a) “I don’t fit in”: negative school experiences leading to anger and frustration toward diagnosis; (b) intergenerational alcoholism, child abuse, and drug addiction; and (c) healing the wounds: sources of strength, success, and helping others. Despite the hardships these participants faced, they each found sources of strength and success that have allowed them to be resilient in the face of adversity. ISSN 1918-5227 Pages 5375 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/eei This Article Open Access after 1 year is brought to you by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Exceptionality Education International by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact jspecht@uwo.ca. Recommended Citation Knorr, L., & McIntyre, L. J. (2016) Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Stories from Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Exceptionality Education International, 26, 53-75. Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/eei/vol26/iss1/4 Exceptionality Education International 2016, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 53–75 ISSN 1918-5227 53 Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Stories from Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Lyndsay Knorr, Laureen J. McIntyre University of Saskatchewan