FASD Support and Resources in Alberta

October 22-23, 2012: Creating Connections, Building Relationships, Growing Communities - FASD Conference [Edmonton]

Description:
Alberta Human Services will be hosting the annual Alberta FASD Conference October 22-23, 2012 at the Delta Edmonton South Hotel and Conference Centre. The two-day conference will feature several keynote speakers, a variety of breakout sessions, and a community showcase and networking reception. This year’s conference will also feature a special focus on building and strengthening connections, relationships and communities.

This conference will be of interest to: caregivers and families, individuals with FASD, teachers, teacher aides, social workers, nurses, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physicians, alcohol and drug workers, mental health workers, community workers, family support workers, program providers, vocational rehab service providers, elected officials, government ministries, lawyers and policy-makers.

More Info:
Website: fasd-cmc.alberta.ca
Email: Amanda Amyotte
Registration will open in July 2012.

FASD Learning Series - Video Presentations and Archive [online]

Description:
For several years, the Child and Youth Services ministry of the Government of Alberta has presented the FASD Learning Series. This series "offers free education opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals and family members/caregivers affected by FASD, support service providers, healthcare providers, educators, legal and justice services, and professionals in the research and evaluation field."

Access Information:
The current list of topics for 2016-2017.

The main video search page allows you to browse through a list of 97 videos, or to search by keyword. Note that this search page covers FASD videos from 2016 and earlier. 

Topics Include:
Becoming a Successful Adult Learner
Diagnosis of FASD in the Adolescent Years
Creating a Brain-Friendly Life
Friendship? Dating? Sex? Relationships in the Complex FASD World
Building the Brain Boxes
Opening the Brain Boxes
Safety Issues: FASD and Sexuality
Employability Strategies for Persons with FASD
Enhancing Employability for Persons with FASD
The Ongoing Face of Grief and Loss and the Theory Behind It
Living with FASD - As a Person, As a Parent
Financial Literacy for Individuals with FASD
Winning the Battle with FASD: A Family Success Story
Environmental Modifications
Myles Himmelreich
Parental Expectations with an Adult Child Impacted by FASD

 

Million Dollar Babies - CBC Documentary [Online]

Description:
They're called million dollar babies, and one is born every day in Alberta. They are babies with brain injuries caused by the alcohol their mothers drank during pregnancy — brain injuries that can cost a fortune to deal with over a lifetime.

For one week, CBC Radio's James Hees takes a look at the cost of raising a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and what is being done to address the problem.

Online Access:
http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/features/fasd/

Notes:
Produced by CBC Edmonton in March of 2009.
The series can be listed to online, but you require an audio player that uses the .RAM format.

Help for Siblings of Children Affected by FASD [articles]

Description:
SAMSA (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has two booklets available to help siblings of children affected by FASD:

What Do I Do? Helping Your Kids Understand Their Sibling's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
"This booklet provides guidance on understanding sibling relationships when an FASD is involved. It answers questions you might have and suggests ways to help your children cope with their sibling's disorder. A list of resources is also provided if you need further information or support." 16 pages.

My Sibling Has a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Can I Catch it?
Your sibling has a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or an FASD. It can be hard to understand and scary to think about. This booklet can help answer some questions you may have. It tells you about FASD and helps you explore your feelings. It also shares ways to get help." 20 pages.

Access Info:
These two booklets are available for free online in PDF format:
What Do I Do? Helping Your Kids Understand Their Sibling's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
My Sibling Has a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Can I Catch it?

Canadian/International: SAMSA says, "We are not able to accommodate international orders placed through the online shopping cart. Please call 800-729-6686 or email your request to [email protected]." 

Americans can order free paper copies from SAMSA via their site

Towards Inclusion: Tapping Hidden Strengths. Planning for Students who are Alcohol-Affected [document]

Description:
"This is a planning resource intended to provide a support for student service administrators, principals, classroom teachers, resource teachers, school counsellors, clinicians, and other community professionals who will help in assisting schools in developing approaches for students who are alcohol-affected.

The resource will address the spectrum of students who are alcohol-affected, including those diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD)." (from their website)

Chapters include the following topics:
Basic Principles and Framework
Continuum of Services and Supports
Creating a Positive School Climate
Learning Strategies, Supports and Interventions
Planning for Individual Behaviour
Working Together - Family and Community Involvement in the School
and more.

Access Info:
Available free online at Manitoba Ministry of Education website. This main page gives an introduction to the document and then has links to the individual chapters (provided in PDF format).

Other Info:
This document is produced by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth in 2001.

FAS Community Resource Center [online]

Description:

An online resource with many useful sections:

http://www.come-over.to/FAS/ Home Page

Direct links to some selected pages:

Printable FASD brochures and handouts

Best books and links for home schooling children with special needs

FASD Presentation (in PDF and Powerpoint)

FASD-adapted Classroom: Photo Gallery

Description:

A photo gallery with 8 photos of classrooms adapted to teach children with FASD, accompanied by brief descriptions.  At the Mennonite Central Committee - Canada website.

FASD Classroom Photo Gallery

(See also the helpful information on setting up a classroom for students with FASD at do2learn's FASD Toolbox for Teachers)

Mothers with Attitude [Articles]

Description:

'This is a place for parents to share the background and recommendations they've written up for their children's teachers -- so that other parents can use them as a model for their own missives, or just so they know that somebody is actually reading the darn things.'

For the heading Fetal Alcohol Effects, the five items are "Behavior Management Plan", "Handling [Child]'s Behavior, Helping [Child] Behave, Introduction to [Child], "Introduction to 'The Nurtured Heart Approach'". Other headings include Language and Learning Disabilities, and Adoption.  A lot of what is said in these articles is likely to be useful to parents and caregivers as well.

A second set of headings on the same page is 'a place for parents to share their experiences and insights with other parents.'

Website: Mothers with Attitude

Teaching Students with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome / Effects [Articles]

Description:

This resource guide was created by the Special Programs branch of the Ministry of Education in British Columbia.  The website section includes information on characteristics of students with FASD, preparing to teach students with FASD, understanding the needs of these students, developing an individual education plan, etc.

Teaching Students with FAS/FAE Resource Guide

Other Info:

Written in 1996.

Teaching Students with FASD: Building Strengths, Creating Hope [Document]

Description:
"Book 10 in the Programming for Students with Special Needs series, this resource includes:

• background and terminology that will help educators understand the current diagnostic definition of FASD. It also explains the diagnostic process, primary and secondary disabilities, and the strengths and protective factors often seen in students with FASD
• key considerations for planning effective education programs
• suggestions for how to build a positive classroom climate and maintain a supportive learning environment
• overarching strategies on how to structure the learning environment, develop effective routines, build skills for whole class instruction, teach social and adaptive skills, and help students generalize new skills and concepts
• strategies related to specific areas of developmental functioning. The strategies are organized by domain, including attention, memory, language and communication, and academic skills
• an appendix of reproducible blackline masters to use with students, parents and other educators. " (from gov't website)

Sections include What is FASD? Key concepts for planning effective education programs, Organizing for instruction, Creating a positive classroom climate, and Responding to students' needs.

The Teaching Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder page includes introductory comments and links to download (for free) the 182-page PDF document, produced in 2004, as one complete article or by section. A print version can also be purchased.

Also available is the free Sample professional development activities to support teaching students with FASD (PDF format, 74 pages)

Active Learning: Bridging the Gap for Alcohol Effect Children [Article]

Description:

An 2-3 page article by Debbie Evensen which lists the learning disabilities which FAS/FAE children may have, and then discusses some effective learning techniques.

Active Learning article

In Their Own Words

Description:

Personal stories from six individuals who have been affected by FASD:

* Poem by Judy "Seeing is Believing"

* Letter from Anique: "What I want Social Workers to Know."

* Letter from David: "What I want People to Know."

* Letter from CJ: "What I would like Teachers to Know."

* Letter from Loni: "The Story of Loni"

* A Story by Angela: "What its like to be an aboriginal adult with FAS"

Website: FASDconnections.ca 'In Their Own Words' Menu

Other Info:

This is a Canadian site, most likely originating from B.C. Four of the people involved in it are FASD Consultants, with one of those being the co-chair of the National Advisory Committee on FASD to Health Canada.

The right educational environment for children with FASD

We, the biological parents, adoptive parents, and foster parents of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, would like our children to receive an education in an environment that meets their specific and unique needs.

Our children have a common set of characteristics which makes it difficult for them to learn.  These include the following:

¨        Difficulty understanding consequences for their behaviour

¨        Difficulty following multi-step directions and tasks

¨        Difficulty with distractions

¨        Difficulty with abstract concepts

¨        Difficulty with socialization skills

Accordingly, they need an educational environment which offers:

¨        Greater supervision

¨        Simple directions given clearly and slowly

¨        A structured consistent environment throughout the day

¨        A neutral, distraction-free environment and calming techiques

¨        Constant repetition in their learning

¨        Concrete learning tasks, set in a context and retaught for new situations

¨        Assistance in maintaining personal space and interacting with others.

(these items have been summarized from an article on the Right Program in Winnipeg)

A program specifically geared to our children will give them a safe environment which matches their ability to learn, provide valuable life skills, and celebrate their strengths and talents.  In the long run, we hope to decrease the frustration which they experience in a regular classroom setting, reduce the number of secondary disabilities (i.e., substance abuse, delinquency, unwanted pregnancy), and provide them with a broader and better range of options for their lives after schooling is complete.

Such a program would also have classrooms which are adapted for the special needs of children with FASD and sensory integration issues.  See some photos of an adapted classroom

Interested in making such a program a reality in Edmonton?   Read our School Options in Edmonton article and send us a comment...

Additional Online Resources about Teaching Children with FASD [Articles plus]

Description:

This page lists additional articles related to teaching children with FASD.
Check out more articles and other resources on this site in the Teaching Children with FASD Category.

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From the Iceberg newsletter:
What You Can Do to Support Students with FASD

From the University of Washington, a concise brochure explaining the key guidelines:
Eight Magic Keys: Developing Successful Interventions for Students with FAS

From dotolearn.com, an excellent online resource including many strategies and ideas about classroom management, learning strategies, and education resources.  The classroom management section, for example, addresses classroom environment, arousal regulation/attention, behaviour in the classroom, and social interaction. Includes diagrams and pictures to illustrate the concepts:
FASD Toolbox for Teachers

From Lewis-Clark State College, a collection of information for those teaching, including definition of facial features in FASD, clues to a possible FASD child in the classroom, personality and learning traits, behaviour checklists and referral forms, and more.
The ABC's of FAS/FAE: Teacher's Guide and Resource Booklet [articles]

From ACBR.com:
HOPE FOR THE FAS/FAE CHILD: An Educational Approach for Success in the Classroom by Maureen F. Murphy

Videos about Teaching Children with FASD [videos]

Description:

This page lists videos of particular interest for those who are teaching children with FASD.  There may also be other videos listed on this site which are also relevant; select "Videos" on the left-side Category Menu for a full listing.

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students like me
39 min., 2000

'A PATHBREAKING VIDEO GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS TEACHING CHILDREN WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME.  Over the past few years, practical research has been revealing more about the nature of learning challenges faced by children with alcohol-related birth defects. As a result, strategies are emerging to help children in both mainstream and special education classrooms.' Students Like Me gives elementary and special educators a clear understanding of what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is, how it affects childrens learning and behavior, and what can be done to modify classroom environments and teaching methods to allow children with FAS to learn. Includes:

• How to recognize a child with FAS in the classroom
• How to modify the class environment and adjust teaching methods
• How to communicate clearly and plan transitions and unstructured time' (from Vida-Health.com)

Vida-Health.com - more details and online ordering

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FAS/FAE: Teaching Strategies for the Classroom
30 min.,  1995 (?)

'In Teaching Strategies for the Classroom, you are placed in the middle of a frank group discussion dealing with FAS/FAE affected children...from an educational standpoint. The group is a combination of teachers, caregivers and social work professionals, all sharing their individual and insightful experiences in growing with these children. Learn more about what behaviors to expect, how to set academic goals, the relationships between teachers and caregivers and the methods this group have found successful in helping these children find success from within themselves.' (from LCC site)

Lethbridge Community College Bookstore FASD page - more information and pricing, and two other FASD videos.   To order this video, phone the Lethbridge Community College at (403) 320-3308.

Homeschooling Children with FASD

Description:

This post will list various resources for homeschooling children with FASD.  You should also check out the rest of the Teaching Children with FASD posts, as the resources on that list are likely to be of use to you as well. (More FASD homeschooling links will be added as they become available)

www.come-over.to/homeschool/
"Best books and links for homeschooling children with special needs" -- a list of over 30 links.  Some are specific to FASD; many are not.