Lindsay Wolfson, MPH Lindsay is a Research Coordinator at the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health and a consultant at the Canada FASD Research Network. She holds a Master of Public Health, Social Inequities and Health, from Simon Fraser University. Lindsay is responsible for research and collaboration on projects relating to the operationalization of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, fetal … Read More
FASD and the Criminal Justice System
Many individuals with FASD face challenges with the justice system and there is growing interest in how to shape justice approaches, treatment, and policy to better support these individuals. However, there is relatively little research in this area. CanFASD researchers recently published a systematic review of the literature on criminal justice system (CJS) involvement among individuals with FASD. The review … Read More
Article Summary: Primary Care of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are a set of disorders that cause challenges in general cognitive functioning and adaptive abilities, such as problem-solving, learning, reasoning, and social and practical skills. Signs of IDD appear before the age of 18, can differ in severity and complexity for different people, and may change across the lifespan. IDD is a general term that … Read More
FASD in Special Populations
Earlier this week, we posted about the rates of FASD in the general population. Women drink during pregnancy for many reasons, and some of the factors that might increase the risk of having a child with FASD include a woman’s nutrition, socioeconomic status, experience of depression, other substance use, and social connections. These factors can affect women from any age … Read More
How Common is FASD?
The question of how many people have FASD is commonly asked of researchers and service providers. This question is important for understanding the full scale of the issue in our communities, providing consistent statistics to policy makers, and for making decisions about where to target funding, resources, and services. Rates of FASD are very difficult to measure because the disability … Read More
Article Summary: Experiences of living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative data
There is limited research on caregivers’ experiences of raising children with FASD, and even fewer studies that focus on the lived experiences of individuals with FASD. Providing these individuals with opportunities to voice their perspectives on how they manage the challenges of daily life is important for understanding disability, and ultimately for improving supports and quality of life for individuals … Read More
Article Summary: Sleep Health Issues for Children with FASD: Clinical Considerations (2010)
Sleep issues in FASD have not received much attention in the research world. Problems with sleep for people with FASD may begin in early infancy and often persist into adulthood. Authors: James E. Jan, Kwadwo O. Asante, Julianne L. Conry, Diane K. Fast, Martin C. O. Bax, Osman S. Ipsiroglu, Elizabeth Bredberg, Christine A. Loock, and Michael B. Wasdell Journal: … Read More
Back to School Series Wrap Up: Had I known then: A message to those in the school system
Over the past month, we have put together a series of posts related to school experiences for individuals with FASD, caregivers, and opportunities for FASD prevention in post-secondary school settings. To conclude our series, we have asked our newest staff member, Richard Mugford, to reflect on his experiences related to FASD and the school system. “Had I known then what … Read More
Back to School #7: Article Summary: School Curriculum Advice from a Young Adult with FASD
There are relatively few studies in the FASD literature that include the voices of individuals with FASD. Additionally, the school experiences for people with FASD also remains a significant gap in the research. To fill these gaps, this article shares the personal account of 21 year-old Nathan who described his own personal strengths, challenges, and strategies related to school. A … Read More
Back to School # 6: “Dry Days” on University Campuses
To wrap up this week’s focus on drinking among post-secondary students, today we are talking about initiatives at some Canadian universities to ban alcohol during Frosh or Welcome Week as a “dry” kick-off to the school year. Alcohol-free orientation weeks are believed to be one of the best ways to reduce the problems associated with drinking, and are meant to … Read More