WELLINGTON COUNTY — Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day is approaching quickly on Sept. 9, and the month of September is devoted to raising awareness, and to challenge current misinformation and stigma.
FASD is a lifelong disability that affects the brain and body of people who were exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. Each person with FASD has unique challenges and strengths, and may require supports and resources to help them succeed in their daily lives.
Cass Garrett, 31, is from Guelph and lives with FASD. She said for her, there is no literal definition of what FASD looks like as she simply lives out her day. She added it was difficult to explain.
“In general, living with FASD can be a challenge,” stated Garrett. “Some of the issues … are things like speech impairment, poor coordination, behavioral issues, social skill deficiencies, cognitive issues, impulsiveness, [and] trouble managing money.”
Garrett said that she does not struggle with all of those, but she does with some.
“Being an adult and living with FASD isn’t easy because people don’t see the disability,” she said.
She added when people see someone do something “abnormal” or out of question, they can be very quick to judge.
“It’s inside your brain,” she said.
Garrett told the Advertiser that during her young adult life, she struggled living and coping in society as she said she did not know how to do things most teenagers knew how to do. Examples were given of how to cook and get around the city.
“Having FASD when I was younger, I felt ashamed of myself,” she said.
“Now, me being a mother and being an adult, I just hope to spread light and awareness on FASD, and show that [people with FASD] can be part of society and successful in our own way.
“I’m still not at a high school level of education, and still have times where I can be forgetful. My coordination and my speech impairment and my social skills aren’t on par, but I’m living with FASD in the best way I can.”
Garrett added there is misinformation surrounding her disability. One of the biggest forms of it she has seen is that others believe it is acceptable to drink moderately throughout pregnancy or in the first trimester.
She said this is a misconception that is still around today that is false, whether it is one, two or three sips.
“No alcohol is okay [when you are pregnant]. You never know what sip will cause permanent damage to your unborn child,” she said.
Garrett added she does not think everyone understands that children who are born with FASD grow into adults and have to live with this disability for the rest of their lives in a world that judges.
“We are judged for something we can’t control.”
Current studies and research suggest that up to four per cent of individuals in Canada are living with FASD. That is equivalent to one in 25 people or 1,451,600 Canadians, according to officials.
Over 60% of Canadian pregnancies are also unplanned, so guidelines from CanFASD suggest individuals refrain from stating that FASD is 100% preventable.
On FASD Awareness Day, Dufferin-Wellington-Guelph FASD, with support from others, will be holding an FASD awareness event at Market Square in Guelph at 10:30am. The event will begin with a short walk, followed by pizza and beverages afterward.
Dufferin-Wellington-Guelph FASD encourages everyone to wear red on Sept. 9 to show support for individuals living with FASD.
They also ask that individuals, if they feel inclined, take a photo showing support and tag them on Facebook with hashtag #DWGFASD for a chance to win a gift card.
For more information about Dufferin-Wellington-Guelph FASD services, visit dufferinwellingtonfasd.com or contact FASD coordinators Tara Leskey at tara.leskey@dcafs.on.ca (519-941-1530 ext. 237) or Jennie Hilts at jennie.hilts@dcafs.on.ca (519- 941-1530 ext. 386).
