#fasd awareness

[crowwolf]

So, my ex and I adopted my older son when he was 14 months old. Lots of struggles to get him to adulthood because they kept misdiagnosing him due to lack of info from the bio fam. He was officially diagnosed with FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - in utero brain injury from alcohol) a few years back and everything clicked into place. If you've ever had a family member who has FASD you know the struggles.

Anyways, since he's been placed in his own apartment with care workers to help.him, our relationship has become so much better. I love my boy with my whole heart, and when he sends me a small message asking me how I am and that he loves me - well, it just brightens my whole day. I don't normally share this stuff cause I'm always worried people will misinterpret me.

Well, this morning he sent me this photo and to say it hit me hard would be an understatement

Whether a child has a disability or not, they see you. To know that he can now recognize my past struggles and believes I deserved more - well, fuck, I think I did something great with my little sunshine (his hair was so so blond, I always called him my sunshine).

Moms and dads who struggle, I see you. I am you. We got this.

[oursacredbreath]

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

[oursacredbreath]

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

[oursacredbreath]

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. 🔥🌟

[oursacredbreath]

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!

[oursacredbreath]

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.

[oursacredbreath]

“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/

[oursacredbreath]

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.