My name is RJ Formanek, and I have FASD. As a person on the spectrum, I look forward to the chance for us all to get together and share experiences and knowledge about FASD, so September 9th is something I personally enjoy being able to participate in.
NB government commits $800,000 to FASD Center of Excellence while NS remains silent
As speaker after speaker stepped up to the podium, I was awestruck by this void. Why, I kept wondering, is no one else addressing this issue?
Guest Blog: Leading neurological issue in children remains widely ignored in Atlantic Canada
So here’s a riddle.
I am a neurological disorder that affects more children than Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome combined. My impact on the brain can present as a wide variety of symptoms including delays in cognition, behavioural outbursts and inability to regulate emotion. I am seldom diagnosed, often leaving children with no answer to the question “Why am I different from all the other kids”? I hide in the shadows and can impact almost anyone. I have no cure, and if I occur in a family from Atlantic Canada, there is almost nowhere they can turn to for help.
What am I?
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Brain Development, and Mental Health
Mental health challenges are common in children, youth, and adults with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). If these challenges are not treated, they can persist for many years. Many mental health problems first emerge in adolescence, but we don’t know a lot about exactly how and when mental health problems begin for people with PAE.
Embraced: The Quest to Make a Film
When our son was twelve, he exploded with a vengeance. Without warning, amidst a crowded outdoor concession stand, he power-kicked a soccer ball directly into his sister’s head. So I loaded him into a van for a road trip to explore, “why the anger?” Every few seconds he said something chilling, then contradicted it in the next sentence. I remained … Read More
BCAPOP launches the Pregnancy Hub
The BC Association of Pregnancy Outreach Programs (BCAPOP) is a registered charity that supports best-practice care for pregnant, postpartum & newly parenting people and their infants in British Columbia and beyond.
Dear Mr. C. – A Letter to my Teacher
This letter had a big impact on K’s situation. Not only did it help her feel better and more empowered to share her story, but her teacher also made changes to improve the classroom environment.
Feature Friday: Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP)
Written by Dr. Katie Birnie I was thrilled to host CanFASD’s webinar on Pain as Experienced by People with FASD in November 2020 in my role as Assistant Scientific Director of Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP). SKIP is a knowledge mobilization network based at Dalhousie University, co-directed by Children’s Healthcare Canada, and funded by the Networks of Centres of Excellence … Read More
What FASD is: a caregiver’s perspective
When asked to write this blog on what FASD means to me, I struggled. FASD is a complicated disability with many challenging aspects. I finally decided that, in my experience, FASD to this point has meant missed opportunities.
A caregiver’s perspective on what FASD is
I often wonder if my child’s FASD was consistently recognized from a disability lens, while framed within a strengths-based approach for interventions and support, would life be just a slight bit easier to manage?