September 9th is International FASD Awareness Day – the 9th day of the 9th month, symbolic of the 9 months a woman must abstain from alcohol to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). To help raise awareness, Wonderland staff and board joined in the Red Shoes Rock! movement to start the conversation about FASDs!
FASD is recognized as the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental and learning disability worldwide, and current studies indicate that 1 in 20 persons may be born with it. Despite the prevalence of FASD, many people are unaware of the dangerous effects alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have on the developing fetus.
Starting us off is Michelle, director of programs & services at Wonderland and Hope RISING Clinic for Prenatal Substance Exposure.
81% of individuals living with FASD will have a language disorder.
Speech-language pathologist Andrea puts her passion for helping children communicate and connect with their family and the world around them to work at Hope RISING Clinic for Prenatal Substance Exposure.
Learn more about Wonderland’s groundbreaking clinic at hoperisingclinic.org
A strengths-based approach is the best way to support people with FASDs.
Amy, our receptionist at Hope RISING Clinic for Prenatal Substance Exposure, and her two furry family members are also rocking their red shoes for #FASDAwarenessDay.
Only 41% of allied health and medical professionals are confident in asking about alcohol use during pregnancy, which contributes to the under-diagnosis of FASD.
Alex, clinic manager and speech-language pathologist at #HopeRISINGClinic, leads a team of uniquely trained providers specializing in assessment, therapy, and diagnostic evaluation for children exposed to drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. She’s rocking her red shoes for #FASDAwarenessDay.
Primary characteristics of FASD include slower processing speed, executive functioning difficulties, sensory differences, problems with memory, and difficulty with emotional regulation.
Jill, a speech-langage pathologist at Wonderland, understands the importance of starting the conversation. She wears her red shoes (and matching cardigan!) to get people talking on #FASDay.
Children living with FASD are three times more likely to experience gross motor impairment than those without FASD.
Katherine, an occupational therapist at Hope RISING Clinic, is rocking her red shoes next to some precious little bare feet today!
Caregivers of people with FASDs experience high levels of stress and burnout, so it is especially important for people with FASDs and their families to have FASD-informed support systems.
Gabrielle, family support supervisor, and family support specialists Solé and Tiara provide this kind of specialized support for the entire family at #HopeRISINGClinic. They’re also rocking their red shoes today for #FASDAwarenessDay.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual who was exposed to alcohol in the womb. There is no safe time to drink during pregnancy and no safe kind of alcohol to drink while pregnant.
Mandy and her home officemate Pete are raising awareness, rocking their red shoes on #FASDay!
The most common gross motor deficits children experience is balance, coordination and ball skills.
Jane, occupational therapist at Wonderland, is showing off her rockin’ red shoes!
Up days and down days are common, and impulsivity is a symptom of FASD.
Family resources coordinator and supervisor Sarah wears her red shoes to ensure families impacted by #FASD and prenatal substance exposure know that we are here, ready to provide answers, innovative and evidence-based treatment, and support for the whole family.
Alcohol is a teratogen that readily crosses the placenta and damages the central nervous system and other organs of a developing fetus. Alcohol can cause harm to the baby at any time, even before a woman knows she is pregnant.
Katya, director of marketing & events at Wonderland, rocks her red shoes to raise awareness of the effects of FASD on children and their families.
FASD is not a mental illness, but 92% of individuals living with FASD will have a co-occurring mental illness.
Lina, child and family therapist at Hope RISING Clinic, took a moment during a day at the beach with her dog to raise awareness about #FASD!
FASD is recognized as the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental and learning disability worldwide, occurring in all cross-sections of society. We can work together to change that!
Mary Kirchoff, Wonderland’s executive director, rocks her red shoes to raise awareness about FASD and make people aware of the silent epidemic of prenatal alcohol exposure and the enormous lifetime cost to exposed children and their families.
Shame and stigma around alcohol use during pregnancy is a barrier to care for people living with FASDs.
Stacy, president of Wonderland’s Board of Directors, is rocking her red shoes to spread awareness and combat the isolation that families impacted by FASDs often face. #HopeRISINGClinic is a place of hope and help, never judgement.
Learn more at hoperisingclinic.org
There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. When a mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy, the blood alcohol of the fetus is the same or higher than the mothers.
Wonderland board VP Scott and his sons pose with their red socks for #FASDAwarenessDay.
Differing needs around nutrition and food are a common symptom for children with FASDs.
Sophie, an occupational therapist at Hope RISING Clinic, uses a holistic approach in helping children and their families reach their fullest potential. She is rocking her red socks to raise awareness of FASD symptoms.
