The Central Alberta Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder Network hosted a gathering to mark International FASD Day.
The nonprofit organization, which offers community-based, cost-free services to people impacted by FASD, hosted the event at Bower Ponds on Saturday.
“Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a brain- and body-based disability – it’s a lifelong disability,” said Julie Nanson-Ashton, executive director of the clinic.
FASD impacts approximately four per cent of Canadians, according to statistics provided through the Canada FASD Research Network. FASD is caused when a baby is exposed to alcohol in the womb. It impacts more people in Canada than Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and Down syndrome combined.
Ninety percent of individuals with FASD also experience mental health issues.
There is no safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy, Nanson-Ashton said, adding that a high percentage of pregnancies are unplanned.
“With that, we want to reduce the stigma around the fact that some moms will have had alcohol in their system without knowing they’re pregnant,” she said.
“We want to prevent it as much as we can, but we also want to encourage moms to not feel stigma around that and to come to us to have their children assessed, diagnosed. Then we can provide supports to the child and family.”
Individuals diagnosed with FASD are “much more likely to be successful in life” if they receive proper support, Nanson-Ashton added.
Saturday’s gathering included a free lunch, activities and a proclamation from the City of Red Deer, read by Deputy Mayor Kraymer Barnstable, to commemorate International FASD Day.
International FASD Day is held on Sept. 9 each year to highlight nine months of pregnancy.
The Central Alberta FASD Network will host its first-ever professional conference Oct. 12.
“We have professional speakers coming in. We also have speakers coming in who have personal experience with FASD. We hope it’ll be a really busy event,” said Nanson-Ashton.
There are 12 FASD networks around the province – the executive directors from each network has been invited to the conference.
For more information, visit www.centralfasd.org.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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