One of the keys to helping someone with FASD is to meet them “where they are” not where society thinks they should be. I’ve had discussions with countless people who offer well-meaning but ill-informed advice, such as, “When I was 18, I was in college, had a job, was living on my own, or in … Continue reading FASD Acceptance and Understanding (Wish 3/12)
While FASD is a physical disability with over 420 co-occurring conditions, the part of the body that connects this, the brain, is invisible to our eyes. Very few people with FASD have any visible characteristics. When people can’t see a disability, people are quick to judge.
In 2016 I wrote a blog post called 12 Wishes for FASD and My Daughter. It was a combination of things I wanted in terms of FASD awareness and things I wanted for my daughter. I did update it in 2017 - 12 Wishes A Year Later - but have not been back to look at it through the lens of another 3 years. Over the next 12 days I will update for the 2020 edition. Today we look at friendships.
Some advice from an employer's perspective when interviewing, hiring and supporting individuals with FASD in workplace.
Robin Burgamy a librarian, FASD advocate and co-founder of KAFASD, a regional support network for FASD recently had her paper Bright Futures: Creating College Opportunities/Programs for Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder published in Future Review: International Journal of Transition and College and Career Success.
UPDATE: Bill 172 passed Second Reading! It will now go to a Standing Committee for further consideration. During the Committee stage the specific details of the Bill will be examined, and members of the public may be given the opportunity to appear as a witness or produce a written submission with thoughts on the Bill. … Continue reading Second Reading of Bill 172 – FASD and the Education Act
I am not talking about what the acronym FASD means or even how it is caused, but going deeper into what it really means for Society. Most people see it as an alcohol and pregnancy issue - but it really goes beyond that. The Canada FASD Research Network released their 2020 FASD Awareness Month Toolkit … Continue reading What is FASD?
I've been thinking about grief and loss for awhile now. We know many caregivers for individuals with FASD experience grief and loss. We hear others say, "Oh, that's grief and loss!" - but what do we really know about it? Most of the information available on grief and loss is about death. Or in relation … Continue reading FASD: Grief and Loss for Caregivers
I recently saw the graphic below, of a sloth riding on a turtle’s back, saying “too fast”. I was going to share it on my Facebook page, with a short comment about how we may need to slow down in order to accommodate an individual with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Either in what we say, how … Continue reading FASD: Lessons in Processing Speed from the Turtle, Sloth and Snail
I’m tired. No I’m more than tired. I’m exhausted. I’m depleted. No amount of self care (bubble baths, walks, therapy, lunch with friends, reading a book, etc.) is going to “fill my cup” and bring me back to where I need to be. I’m not alone. Many people are. Those who are caring for individuals with … Continue reading What happens when no one cares for the caregiver
