#fasday

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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. 🔥🌟

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Day 17 of 99 Days to FASDay. Today’s NB Approach tip is about recognizing strength, effort and energy needs. Even in the days of home based learning during a pandemic or learning something new there are different expectations that require a lot of energy to process and focus.

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Day 31 of 99 Days to FASDay. Today starts a series of FASD myths and facts. Our own experience agrees with the above. We went to many different therapists over the years. Many didn’t understand the brain difference and thus except for some play therapy for attachment, all other therapy has not had great success. Have you had luck with therapy?

For more information on today’s post: https://oursacredbreath.com/2017/07/01/day-31-of-99-fasd-therapy-and-medications/

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Day 16 of 99 Days to FASDay. This is one area that so many caregivers struggle to understand. Confabulation is when the brain fills in gaps of understanding or of memory. Do you have any tips that have helped? For more information: https://oursacredbreath.com/2017/06/16/day-16-of-99-confabulation/

Day 16 of 99 Days to FASDay: Confabulation

Confabulation and lying. What’s the difference for someone with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

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Day 15 of 99 Days to FASDay. Today we look at Executive Functioning. Executive function is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.

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FASD often Mis/Un Diagnosed

Day 62 of 99 Days to FASDay looks at the under and mis diagnosis of FASD.

Dr. Joanne Weinberg, a neuroscientist who studies FASD, has said “It’s very important for the research and clinical community to understand how prevalent FASD is.

Once you’re more aware, there’s a chance, in the clinical setting, that you will diagnose it more frequently and accurately or at least ask about alcohol exposure,” says Weinberg, “You might be able to help these kids and their families more effectively.”

Unfortunately, just like mental health issues, Weinberg says there is a stigma around alcohol use that can get in the way of recognizing FASD.

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Welcome to Day 4 of 99 Days to #FASDay. While the information for this graphic came from a 1993 study of twins, there was a study released in 2019 another twin study confirmed virtually identical prenatal alcohol exposures can lead to markedly different fetal alcohol spectrum disorder outcomes.

Please note the diagnostic terminology has changed since 1993 - but the results in 2019 did not.

You can find information on both studies here:

https://oursacredbreath.com/2017/06/04/day-4-99-days-genetic-differences-fasd/

Day 4 of 99 Days to FASDay: Genetic Differences in PAE

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Studies of twins have shown that non-identical twins exposed to the same level of alcohol can have differen

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I am very excited about the information that will be shared over the next 6 days of the 99 Days to FASDay countdown. Day 21 – 26 will focus on the words we use when talking about FASD, people with FASD and women who use alcohol during pregnancy.

The suggestions are from the FASD Language Guide by a group from the Manitoba FASD Coalition called Looking After Each Other.

For more information: https://oursacredbreath.com/2017/06/21/day-21-of-99-fasd-language-guide/