Background For children with FASD, who experience deficits in behavioral and cognitive functioning, school can be a challenging environment. The social and emotional deficits seen in children with FASD also affect their ability to create positive relationships with teachers and peers. This study by Poth et al., 2014 looks at the experiences and impact of classroom practices for students with … Read More
AccessAbility Day 2: Article Summary- Intervention recommendations and subsequent access to services following clinical assessment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Background Children with FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE, without a formal FASD diagnosis) require various interventions to address the challenges they face on a daily basis. This study by Pei et al., 2017, looks at differences in intervention recommendations for children with FASD and PAE (no FASD diagnosis), and access to these interventions. The researchers investigated specifically, which categories … Read More
Accessibility, Inclusion and FASD – National AccessAbility Week
“Every individualin Canada – regardless of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, colour, sex, age or physical or mental disability – is to be treated with the same respect, dignity and consideration” is a law mandated by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.1 Indeed, every Canadian with or without a disability deserves to be included in society and given … Read More
CanFASD Announces New Senior Research Lead
CanFASD would like to thank Dr. Alan Bocking for his years of service to the CanFASD Research Network. Dr. Bocking, who has been CanFASD’s Scientific Advisor since August 2014, has recently retired. Dr. Bocking has extensive research experience relating to FASD prevention and understanding the mechanisms underlying FASD, with the goal of developing new and innovative approaches to FASD intervention. … Read More
CanFASD Releases New Annotated Bibliography of The Top FASD Articles of 2018
Every year, CanFASD staff, in collaboration with our researchers and the Family Advisory Committee, performs an extensive literature search to identify articles published in previous year that are the most relevant and impactful in the field of FASD. These articles are chosen based on their novelty, scientific rigor, their ability to influence practice and policy, their ability to obtain media … Read More
Upcoming Workshop: Caring for the Caregiver
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is hosting a workshop using Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), for female caregivers of individuals with FASD, at the Toronto Western Hospital at the end of May. Read more about ACT and details of the workshop below: Find the PDF version here
Remote Monitoring Offering Adults with Disabilities More Independence
John Mogan of Ohio, USA, lives with developmental disabilities and mental illness, and has needed around the clock care for many years. Since the creation of software company ‘Medforall’, this in-person care has been cut in half. Medforall was created by computer scientist/engineer Ali Rahimi, after he realized the frustrations and limitations faced by those with disabilities. He believed that … Read More
Guest blog: Thoughts on the FASD International Conference Part 2- Shelley More
As a Caregiver, I am very aware of the importance of taking care of oneself and connecting with others experiencing the same challenges. For me, the personal connections I make are just as important as any information or education. My first observation, though, was the result of self-reflection. After spending 2 days in workshops where I had to really think … Read More
Guest blog: Thoughts on the FASD International Conference- Shelley More
I had the great fortune to attend 3 days of the International FASD Conference, Vancouver at the beginning of March thanks to the generous sponsorship of CanFASD. With this support, I was blessed to learn what’s happening around the world with regards to FASD and feeling connected to a greater community. First, being with the 800+ researchers, clinicians, service providers, … Read More
Article Summary: Social perception in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Children with FASD are very social; they tend to seek out social interaction with others and start conversations. However, once engaged in a conversation, they struggle with understanding social cues and facial expressions. This study examined the deficits in social cognition among children ages 8-12 with FASD. In particular, this study identified how recognizing facial expressions and showing empathy can … Read More