our sacred breath

finding calm in the chaos of FASD

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FASDay Bingo is Back!

If, you’re looking for some fresh and fun ways to raise awareness leading up to FASD Month and International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day (September 9), we’ve got you covered with …

Only one month to go until International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day on September 9th! Many countries and communities also recognize September as FASD Month. If you are looking for some ideas on how to participate or raise awareness, you can get ideas with our FASDay Bingo event! Check out the blog post for details.

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Let’s Reclaim and Recolour Blue Monday

Have you heard today is Blue Monday? Have you also heard that it isn’t true? It was an advertising gimmick to sell holidays.

Interesting that one of the reasons people were said to be blue, was because of finances after Christmas. Tell me how going on a holiday, spending more money, is going to cure depression? Maybe getting outside and into sunshine might help temporarily, but it won’t solve your financial worries. It will increase them.

Many adjectives have been used to describe this day, but depression should not be one of them. Depression is a mental health condition that cannot be said to be the worst for one day out of the year, and today is that day. Using the word depression in such a way trivializes the challenges people with clinical depression have - including a large percentage of people with FASD.

The formula the person came up with to make this pronouncement has been debunked. Even so, some media reported on it as if it was valid and true - that statistically one day in 365 is the most down, sad or blue day, for the entire population on the earth. Sadly even the Canadian Mental Health Association used the headline: Blue Monday Survival Guide.

There were organizations using the day to counter the claim or to use an opportunity to create conversations or share information about mental health awareness. Last year I shared these graphics. I encouraged people to use the day to do something for themselves. Not to buy in to the hype.

It was my daughter who told me it was Blue Monday. She heard it on a morning show she watches with her Grandma, while I’m at work. I have heard of it before but never realized it’s history. It’s no wonder people have a hard time trusting media and advertising when news sources continue to promote this made-up day - that could have serious consequences.

What do you think. Should we reclaim the day?

No Media Monday. To protest false advertising

Talk About it Tuesday. To promote it’s okay to reach out for help.

Wellness Wednesday. Spotlight how emotions and feelings ebb and flow.

Freebie Friday. Advertisers sponsor healthy activities in communities.

Self care Saturday or Sunday. Share realistic information about self care.

Voting ended onJan 16, 2024

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In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d create a costume for all the caregivers and advocates. Although this is an ‘invisible costume’ all year!

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It’s a Cliff - Not a Crack.

“When I hear people talk about the cracks in support, funding, and services … for FASD it isn’t a crack in the system. A crack requires another side to jump to. We have a cliff. Because there is nothing on the other side for us to jump to.” ~ Myles Himmelreich.

I was fortunate to meet Myles in person a few years ago at a conference. He is one of the rock star self-advocates in the FASD world. Born in 1978, he was diagnosed at 22 years of age. He is a motivational speaker, provides consultation and training, including work with the Representative for Children and Youth for the Province of British Columbia and has run mentoring groups. He is a founding member of the ALC of FASD Changemakers and was the co-lead on their first ground-breaking Lay of the Land Survey on the health of adults with FASD and is a member of the team on their second Lay of the Land Survey on Quality of Life. His goal is to help change the way people view FASD, educate society to build environments for success, and empower those with it to know and find their purpose.

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“For too many years we were talked about but we weren’t talked with.”

This is a quote I heard in a very powerful presentation by RJ Formanek (self-advocate, speaker and creator of Flying with Broken Wings, a FB group for individuals with FASD and people who support them).

I am so grateful for those who speak up and out. My daughter continues to find and share her voice. We need to listen and learn from people with lived experience.

You can find RJ’s group here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/FASDaFlyingwithbrokenWings/

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When things are challenging, it is so easy to focus on the negative. Our brain loves to seek out and hold on to the negative. That’s exhausting. Why not seek out the positive instead? Things that we or the people we love, raise and support are good at. What are our or their strengths, interests and abilities? Start there.

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People with FASD have strengths as well as challenges. Let’s build on strengths. 💜 In fact, the theme for Canada FASD Research Network’s FASD Month activities is: Uniting our Strengths: Finding Solutions Together.

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Too often when individuals with FASD are doing well supports are removed and expectations are increased, when what we should be doing is modifying the environment and our expectations to support their continued success.

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Each person is their own shade of different.

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A few years ago Vanessa Hrvatin was interviewed on The FASD Success Show podcast about her four in-depth features on FASD which appeared in Canada's National Post newspaper. Areas covered include:

👉 How caregivers and individuals with FASD were the inspiration for the feature and how the opportunity to write it came about.

👉 The reasoning behind and focus of each of the initial three features, her biggest worry and her aha moments.

👉 The reactions to those initial feature pieces and the who, why and what behind the most recent feature three years later.

You can listen to it on all popular podcast platforms or find it here with links to the articles: https://www.fasdsuccess.com/blog/podcast-episode-060

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Did you play FASDay Bingo last year? There is still time to play! The prize? More awareness, acceptance and action! Here are some ideas to get you started!

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In the FASD realm, those with wisdom to share, will be wearing red shoes - a definite sign they truly care.

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Ever have someone ask you: What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder? Jeff Noble can help you with the answer! In his latest video he breaks down this definition by Canada FASD Research Network - in less than 8 minutes!

Check it out on YouTube @FASDSUCCESS: https://rb.gy/ru8g9

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“If I could tell the world anything about FASD it is that people with FASD are strong and brave. Every day can be hard but we never give up and we try our best every day.” ~ Sebastian

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We need Society to think about FASD differently. We need people to acknowledge, accept and accommodate individuals with FASD. We need people to support parents and caregivers. It’s time.

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Today marks the beginning of FASD Month.

Individuals with FASD, parents, caregivers, organizations, professionals, advocates and allies will increase awareness efforts. Hopefully the joining together of many will help open people’s eyes to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, enabling them to understand the need to build community and support each other.

In Canada, the prevalence of FASD is estimated to be 4%. With a reported population of 39,858,480 on April 1, 2023, this means 1,594,339 Canadians have FASD. The numbers are likely much higher as many people go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Take some time this month to follow an FASD organization in your area to learn more.

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Dan Levy's wisdom is on point: "People's differences are a reason to start a conversation, not end one."

Let his words ignite our red shoes rock spirit as we approach Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month. 💫

Start The Conversation is a Red Shoes Rock. FASD Aware. theme. It continues to be a rallying cry - as while it’s now 50 years since Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was named, we find ourselves still at the beginning. FASD, though one of the most common developmental disabilities, remains in the shadows, misunderstood, misdiagnosed and under-supported.

Let's change that and move conversations into impactful actions this year! FASD Month is 3 days away. FASDay is September 9th. Each year awareness grows, so let’s use these next 30 days of September to unite and raise our voices and efforts, shift the narrative and usher in change. 🔥🌟