Daily Activities

Employment & Day Services

There is a range of employment and day services you can consider for your young adult, including:

  • A full or part time job, with or without a job coach.
  • Volunteer work.
  • Supervised work crew.
  • Sheltered workshop employment.
  • Adult day programming.

There are agencies within each state that provide services in these areas. The programs and services offered vary not only by state but also by localities within each state, and the services offered also often vary from agency to agency.

Some agencies provide both employment/day programming and residential services, while others provide only one—meaning the person and family may have to deal with two sets of providers.

Exercise & Recreation

One other aspect of your child’s day to consider is to find physical activity (exercise) for your child to do each day. Many local recreation centers offer programs for people with varying abilities or they will include your child into their regular programming.

An added benefit to utilizing the recreation center is the social component that is present at the center, which is so important for your child! Recreation center activities may include sports or craft activities or even dances.

Call your local recreation center to see what activities your child can participate in. If you do not have access to a recreation center, maybe you can form a neighborhood walking group. Maybe a local church or school will let you bring in a group for craft projects or dances.

With a little work you can keep your child active and healthy.

Planning & Support

Contact your local disability organization to find out about the services in your area and to get your child on the appropriate wait lists.

Successful daily planning can be maximized by:

  • Spending the time to find the right job or activity for the day, including start and end times, travel time if needed, and how it fits into the rest of their day, week, and beyond.
  • Finding the right mix of jobs and activities for the week.
  • Finding natural supports at their job in the form of dedicated and caring people willing to work with and learn more about Fragile X and how it affects your child. We have provided some ideas on how to provide education to others here.

Planning is never done, remember that you’ll need ongoing family involvement and advocacy to keep your child active and engaged in the world around them. For additional information, see the Employment Section of the NFXF’s Adolescent and Adult Project. There are video vignettes as well as written materials on all aspects of employment and vocational activities, including information on state and local resources:

Resources