Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, otherwise known as FASD, is a medical diagnosis given to an unborn child after it is harmed by its pregnant mother drinking alcohol.
There's no cure to the disease, only prevention. Which is why September 9th is FASD Awareness Day, to let people know that FASD is something that everyone needs to help stop.
"Prevention of FASD is a community responsibility, it's not just a woman's responsibility," explained Marlene Dray, the FASD Prevention Coordinator with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. "So providing support to women and families to have healthy pregnancies, healthy families is really important, and stigma and shame does not eliminate or change things, it just makes things go more underground."
The Prevention Institute says the history behind September 9 being the awareness day is because it's "the ninth day of the ninth month of the year. It reminds us of the 9 months of pregnancy. FASD Awareness Day was started in 1999 by a small group of parents who wanted to raise awareness.
Over the years, FASD Awareness Day has grown and is celebrated around the world. In 2000, the Saskatchewan Minister of Health proclaimed September 9 as FASD Awareness Day in Saskatchewan. FASD Awareness Day became legislation in July 2002."
According to Dray, FASD is also hard to see at first and signs aren't shown until later in a child's development.
"It is very often invisible. It's called an invisible disability, and a lot of time with children the signs of FASD don't really turn up until they may be in school," she said. "Sometimes they can have challenges making friendships, understanding social skills, a lot of the mathematical problems, telling time."
The City of Moose Jaw also declared the day, and coming up on October 19th will be an FASD Conference held by the Regional FASD Committee. There will also be a Free Education Day on the 19th.
Mon, May 6, 8:00 AM
Labour, Seasonal
Featured
