Suitable Work...

(i) Appropriate Demands in the Workplace: It is important not to overestimate the abilities of individuals with WS and not to place excessive or unrealistic demands on them. Supervisors report that many adults prefer routine work and can only cope with simple tasks and instructions in the workplace. They lack strength and tend to tire more easily as they get older, so that activities that are physically demanding or which involve a lot of standing are not appropriate. If an individual is complaining of fatigue or is obviously looking tired as the day or week wears on, it may be advisable to lessen the work-load or reduce the hours worked. Visuo-spatial and numerical tasks are especially difficult for many WS individuals, so jobs requiring such skills may not be appropriate.

(ii) Adequate Supervision: Adults with WS tend to be distractible and restless, and as a result most require a high level of supervision in order to concentrate on a task. Their intense preoccupations can also serve to distract them from their work. Continuing supervision is necessary to ensure that tasks are completed carefully and promptly. Supervisors will need to provide simple explanations and demonstrations of what is required, prompts and reminders. They should also be prepared to give people with WS emotional support and reassurance should they become anxious or upset for any reason. Often adults with WS will only take instruction from someone they recognize as a supervisor. They may resent being told what to do by other people, which can cause problems with fellow workers. Having an approachable supervisor as a source of advice, reassurance and instruction can circumvent many of these difficulties.

Rewards can be given for completing tasks well. Similarly, self-instruction is often a useful strategy for improving concentration. The individual should be reminded to keep working on the task at hand, initially by thinking aloud and later by silent instruction to him/herself. So while carrying out a task, the adult is taught to tell himself at regular intervals to "keep working" and to "concentrate on what I' m doing". Breaking down tasks into short, simple steps with cues - such as pictures or written instructions - to indicate what needs to be completed at each stage can also be useful.

(iii) Reducing Anxiety: Anxiety may manifest itself by the individual continually seeking reassurance from fellow workers and supervisors, increased repetitive movements (e.g. rocking, thigh rubbing, and hand rubbing), withdrawn behavior, or irritability and moodiness. If it is felt that the adult is more nervous or anxious than usual, it will be important to examine both work and non-work environments to ensure that the demands that are being made are not excessive. Stress and anticipatory anxiety can often be reduced by spending a short period ahead of time preparing the adult for the task or feared event, and by explaining in detail what can be expected and talking through possible outcomes. The majority of adults with WS are hypersensitive to certain sounds (e.g. the noise of machinery, power tools, lawnmowers, fireworks, thunder), and noisy and busy work environments may also result in increased distress. A quiet work environment, which is as free from distractions as possible, is recommended.

(iv) Friendly and Sociable Environment: Individuals with WS get particular pleasure from meeting and helping people, and often enjoy tasks such as running errands for others. On the whole adults with WS do not work well in teams, and often resent receiving instructions or directions from others. It is generally best to give the individual a particular area of work or a list of simple tasks that are his/her sole responsibility. This can also help to enhance feelings of self-esteem.

(v) Structured (but not repetitive) Work: Because of their distractibility and short attention spans, adults tend to get bored with repetitive work. Conversely, they dislike change and seem to work better when given a structured routine. More complex tasks can be coped with if individuals are provided with a written list or a sequence of pictures outlining task requirements.

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