WELLINGTON COUNTY – Sept. 9 is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day and the month of September is devoted to raising awareness of FASD to improve prevention, diagnosis and support for individuals with FASD.
Dufferin Wellington Guelph FASD is committed to helping with this endeavor, while challenging stigma and current misinformation about FASD.
To show support, organizers encourage everyone to wear red – a shirt, shoes or anything red and take a selfie.
Tag them on Facebook at Dufferin Wellington Guelph FASD using the hashtags #DWGFASD and #FASDis to be entered into a draw a gift card.
FASD is a lifelong disability that affects the brain and body of individuals who were exposed to alcohol during pregnancy.
Each person with FASD has unique strengths and challenges, and may need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, emotional regulation and social skills.
Support and resources are essential to help individuals succeed with different parts of their daily lives.
It is estimated that over 50 per cent of Canadian pregnancies are unplanned and that up to 60% of women do not know they are pregnant early in their pregnancy. Current studies and research suggest that up to 4% of individuals in Canada have FASD (1 in 25 or 1,451,600 Canadians).
There is no safe time, no safe amount and no safe type of alcohol to consume in pregnancy.
For more information about Dufferin Wellington Guelph FASD services, visit dufferinwellingtonfasd.com or contact FASD coordinators Tara Leskey at tara.leskey@dcafs.on.ca or at 519-941-1530 ext 237 or Jennie Hilts at jennie.hilts@dcafs.on.ca or at 519-941-1530 ext 386.
