FASD is a leading cause of developmental disability in Canada, and while the conversation around alcohol and pregnancy is so important, prevention remains a significant challenge. Prevention goes beyond informing pregnant women of the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy, but also includes preventing adverse outcomes in individuals diagnosed with FASD, and informing the community how best to support women … Read More

This research was led by two CanFASD Researchers, Jocelynn Cook and Mansfield Mela, as well as CanFASD Managing Director Kathy Unsworth Background Along with experiencing mental health issues, regulating one’s emotions, known as affect regulation (AR), is a common challenge for individuals with FASD. The Canadian FASD diagnostic guidelines were updated in 2016 to include a domain for AR, which … Read More

Hi there fellow caregivers, my name is Jennifer. I have a daughter with FASD and I’ve fostered other children who also live with FASD in the past. My partner and I are the advocates, bouncers, parents and playmates of our kiddo as we navigate life, systems and society that are not FASD-informed. It’s a recipe for exhaustion. Sort of like … Read More

CanFASD is pleased to announce that applications for the 2020 Dr. Sterling Clarren Research Award are now open! The CanFASD Sterling Clarren Research Award has been named in honour of Dr. Sterling Clarren to recognize his pioneering contribution and leadership in the field of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).  The award is presented annually to a Canadian Early Career Researcher … Read More

The United Nations International World Youth Skills Day is celebrated annually on July 15th.  The United Nations states, “Rising youth unemployment is one of the most significant problems facing economies and societies in today’s world.” Youth, aged 15 to 24 are almost three times more likely than adults to be unemployed. They constantly face issues such as low quality employment, … Read More

Language is a powerful tool which has been used to celebrate people, but also alienate populations of people. Individuals with disabilities have been faced with discrimination and stereotypes that separate them from the rest of society, including individuals with FASD. Using language that highlights the strengths and abilities of the individual, as opposed to only focusing on the challenges they … Read More

On June 13th, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance posted a news release inviting Canadians to share their input regarding the next federal budget. CanFASD urges you to make a submission in support of the CanFASD Research Network and the work that we do.  FASD is a major public health issue that affects over 1.4 million Canadians – … Read More

Submitted by: Lisa Brownstone (left), Director, CanFASD Research Network, and Dorothy Reid (right), Co-chair, Family Advisory Committee. Dorothy Reid is the Co-Chair of the CanFASD Family Advisory Committee. She is also the owner of Reid Wellness Consulting, providing consultation and training to individuals and organizations on maintaining wellness. Dorothy previously worked with the Correctional System primarily in the area of … Read More

Canada Day is a day to celebrate, eat, spend time with friends and family and have fun. But, for children with sensory issues, this day could be quite overwhelming and stressful. A crowded place with lot of unknown people, loud noises, flashing, bright lights, distracting colors and unusual food are among the list of things that may be quite overwhelming … Read More

Fighting for a Future-2004 and Are we still fighting for a future-2019 The first ‘Fighting for a Future’ Symposium held in 2004 identified six areas that needed action for change and needed further research and support for individuals with FASD. They were: 1) Homelessness, 2) Finances,  3) Physical and Mental Health, 4) Education, Programming and Employment, 5) Legal Actions and … Read More