Category Archive

At CanFASD, we have been working to create a common definition of FASD for use in a Canadian context. We believe that if all governments, service agencies, and researchers use a common definition of FASD, it will: Reduce stigma, given that many existing definitions are quite harsh and use incorrect or outdated information Increase understanding of the disability Increase consistency … Read More

Congratulations to our Research Associate, Dr. Kelly Coons-Harding, who this past weekend received the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal from Laurentian University. The Governor General’s Academic Medals recognize the outstanding academic achievements of students in Canada and are awarded to the graduating student with the highest academic standing. Medals are awarded at four levels: bronze at the secondary school level; … Read More

Although research and education on the challenges faced by individuals with FASD is important in order to provide resources and supports, it is equally important to talk about the strengths of these individuals. Earlier this fall, we released an issue paper that discusses the current research that does exist in the area of FASD strengths, gaps in research that need … Read More

CanFASD would like to welcome Vichy Liyanage-Zachariah to the team! Vichy has joined us as our newest member to help with a review of the National Alcohol Strategy’s information about FASD. Vichy, originally coming from Sri Lanka, is a child health researcher at the University of Manitoba and a Freelance Medical Writer. Vichy completed her PhD in Medical Epigenetics and … Read More

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

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

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

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

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