Vocational Challenges for People With Prader-Willi Syndrome

Abstract

Because of improvements in health care, education, and behavior management, more and more individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are living well into adulthood, often into the fourth and fifth decades of life. Expectations for good health and for satisfying adult living situations are no longer unrealistic. In the continuum of effective services for people with PWS, successful job placements have evolved to the status of “the last hurdle” to be cleared. Nonetheless, effective vocational placements are still difficult to achieve for people with PWS. This chapter will discuss work placement settings and the challenges each of these vocational settings pose for individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome. Strategies for structuring for vocational success are discussed, and a list of questions to ask potential employers is included to guide a family seeking a vocational program for their family member with PWS. Similarly, a list of questions that an employer may want to ask is also included.