Demystifying FASD and Influencing the Outcomes.

Current statistics claim 1/50 children have *FASD, with an estimated 75% of Looked After Children at risk of the disorder.

Until now, getting a diagnosis and support package has been difficult. 

In March '22, NICE changed their guidelines making significant changes to the diagnostic criteria and a far simpler path for families to get support.

This will create a massive shift...

In the volume of children recognised with FASD and in the expectation on professionals to be able to offer support.

For as long as I can remember the conversations around FASD have been focused predominantly on the challenges and uncertainties of the condition, creating fear and overwhelm.

There has been little attention given to the amazing things that happen when our children come in to contact with adults who 'get them'... who recognise their condition, understand they are wired slightly differently and know how to interpret their behaviour and navigate their needs.

It's a game changer.

Since 2017, I have been working to join the dots between parents/carers and professionals.

The goal is to create an end-to-end, holistic working knowledge of FASD so that at each point when our children work with a professional (social worker, teacher, doctor etc), they are met with compassion and competency. 

This leaves the child's parents/caregivers free from endless explanations and advocacy. Instead, their time and energy can be given to meeting their child's needs within the family home.. 

In the face of such a difficult and weighty subject, I have found a friendly and practical approach is always welcome and the examples of my own experiences of FASD within teaching, fostering, adoption and parenting gets to the nitty-gritty and brings it all to life.