LOOK BEYOND FASD

FASD: A 3-MINUTE INTRODUCTION

    A short introduction on what is FASD by The Asante Centre.

© FASD: A 3-Minute Introduction - The Asante Centre

The Asante Centre - YouTube

Alcohol is a known teratogen. A teratogen is a substance that disturbs the development of an embryo or fetus by changing the DNA at any point during the 40 weeks of pregnancy.

When a pregnant person drinks alcohol, the alcohol goes into their bloodstream and is absorbed into the placenta. Since the growing fetus receives all its nutrients and oxygen through the placenta, this means alcohol also gets absorbed and affects the brain’s development.

Misconception: A common belief is that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) during the later stages of pregnancy is less harmful. This is fact false. The brain keeps growing and changing all throughout the pregnancy, up to the end. 

There is no safe time or amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy, and any amount of alcohol may harm the developing baby.

FASD presents itself differently in every person.

When alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, it often results in a pattern of uneven development across a person’s physical, cognitive, social, and behavioural functioning.

For example, a person with FASD might be 16 years of age, sound like a 20-year old (expressive language), have the social skills of a 9-year old, the morality of a 6-year old, read like a 14-year old, have the life skills of a 12-year old, and understand time and money at about the same level as an 8-year.

FASD is a lifelong disability. The characteristics in each person will be different depending on the timing and amount of alcohol they were exposed to during pregnancy. Although there is no cure, with proper supports and education, characteristics of FASD can be managed.

It is important to note that FASD is often an invisible disability. This means that sometimes there are no visible signs of impairment. But just because there are no physical signs of FASD, that does not mean that a person does not need specialized support.

people with FASD commonly experience one or more of the following:

•  Learning and memory difficulties
• Difficulty storing and retrieving information
• Speech and language challenges (receptive and expressive)
• Short attention span (distractibility), impulsive behaviour, easily overwhelmed
• Social difficulties (difficulties with understanding social rules and expectations)
• Ability to repeat instructions, but inability to put them into action
• Difficulties with abstract concepts – money, mathematics, time
• Sensory difficulties (hearing, vision, touch, smell)
• Developmental delays (growth deficiency, coordination and motor difficulties, organ defects, skeletal abnormalities)

Potential effects of FASD 

Characteristics of FASD in Adulthood:

• Uncontrolled repetition of particular response – ideas or activities may appear compulsive and or rigid
• Poor social skills
• Require individualized support to safely parent children
• Struggles with independent living
• Struggles with finding housing
• Struggle with getting employed or retaining employment
• Problems managing money
• Lack of reciprocal relationships
• Struggle with impulsivity, being unpredictable
• Alcohol and other substance misuse
• Legal problems 
   

Even though people with FASD may have difficulties with different parts of daily life, just like everyone else, they also have many unique strengths. These strengths can be highlighted and supported to help develop and maintain skills.

Common strengths identified in people with FASD include but are not limited to:

• Being caring towards others
• Friendly, outgoing, affectionate, and likeable
  prefers routine and structure
• Prone to temper tantrums and non-compliance
• Mood swings and issues with behavioural regulation
• Issues with self-esteem and motivation
• Heightened risk of mental health and substance use issues
• Difficulties with reading comprehension and mathematics
• Difficulties with applying instructions even if they appear to understand and can repeat them
• Hard-working, determined, and persistent
• Chatty and good storytellers
• Helpful and generous
• Hands on, concrete learners
• Creative and artistic
• Energetic
• Good with elderly people, and animals
• Non-judgmental
   

Protective factors are things that can be done at the individual, family, community, and societal levels to improve outcomes for people with FASD.

“Eeyou/Eenou family values guide you and steer you in the right direction in living the good way”.

As parents and caregivers practicing these values can help to create a safe, stable, and predictable home for someone with FASD. This will help to lessen some of the difficulties the person with FASD will face and create an environment in which they can develop coping strategies, build capacity, and fully benefit from your support throughout their lifetime.

• Early intervention-Your local clinic is the main entry to receiving disability services for someone with FASD (Community Worker, Special-Needs Educator, Allied Health and Maanuuhiikuu professionals, etc.).
   
• Diagnosis: A diagnosis is not required to begin helping a person with FASD. However, a diagnosis will open doors to specific supports and funding that otherwise would not be available
  
   

Disability Programs Specialized Services (DPSS) of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay leverages their resources to support the Miyupimaatisiium Care Team (MCT) and the Extended Care Team (ECT) in the areas of neurodisability and complex disability profiles. This support is provided through knowledge sharing and a collaborative approach to complex disability case management, neurodisability program delivery, as well as respite planning and funding.

DPSS operates in a supportive role to these teams rather than directly interacting with clients themselves.