How Might a High School Program be Designed for an Adolescent with Fragile X Syndrome?

The high school program for the adolescent with fragile X must still comply with the law's requirements for an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. The program might consist of a mixture of "regular" high school classes and specialized programs, designed to foster future independence.

Parents and team members must decide at this age level what academic skills should continue to be a focus and what functional living skills should be emphasized. For example, a high school boy with fragile X syndrome might take gym and art with the regular high school program, and continue with reading and math curriculum in a special education class, but also be enrolled in a work/study program, where he is in the community at a job for part of the day. Students receive high school credit for jobs in the community, under supervision. Such jobs might be as varied as in-hospital mail delivery, landscaping, assisting at the zoo, working in a grocery store, preparing food, assisting in a nursing home, or cleaning and doing janitorial work. 

Students in such programs also receive specific vocational training at the school to educate them about important job-related behaviors, such as punctuality, grooming and communicating. Some boys with fragile X might also benefit from independent living classes. These might include skills such as handling cooking, laundry, housekeeping and public transportation.

Girls with fragile X syndrome, who may have learning disabilities in math and pragmatic skills, also qualify for special education services at the middle and high school level. They should also receive vocational assessment and guidance that would lead to college programs, post-high school vocational training, and/or community employment.

Gail Harris-Schmidt, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

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