Competency 6: Legal Issues
Legal Issues Related to Individuals with an FASD, Continued
Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance in Treatment Plans
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires facilities to accommodate disabilities, such as providing wheelchair ramps and doors with openings wide enough for wheelchairs. In addition, treatment facilities cannot discriminate on the basis of a disability.
The addiction professional will need to incorporate accommodations for persons with an FASD into any treatment plans. For example, lighting at meetings may need to be dimmed to keep the person with an FASD from becoming overstimulated. Reading materials may need to be adapted to a lower literacy level to accommodate cognitive deficits.
More information on accommodating disabilities can be found in Appendix D of Treatment Improvement Protocol 29, Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People With Physical and Cognitive Disabilities.
