Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: An umbrella term that covers a range of disorders under this spectrum. The only cause for FASD is by mothers who drink during pregnancy. The alcohol intake damages the development of the fetus’ physical and brain development.
Defined by: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fasd-etcaf/faq-eng.php#1
Annotated bibliography – websites:
Public Health Agency of Canada: FASD
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fasd-etcaf/index-eng.php
The Canada Health Agency website is definitely an excellent website to check up on. This website is funded by the Canadian government and it has a lot of current articles about FASD. The website provides a range of materials from general information and training, to economic impact, government response and reports. This website also provides a list of public resources for mothers who want to find out if their infant has FASD and support for children that have FASD.
Blue Shield of California: FASD
https://www.blueshieldca.com/hw/articles/hw_article.jsp?articleId=HWTK3598
This website is funded by the California blue shield medical insurance company. The website provides general information and answers to some of the common asked questions concerning FASD. Most of the resources found on this website are targeted towards parents. The website also suggests treatments for infant and children with FASD. Although FASD cannot be cured, it will certainly help if children are provided with the resources for improvement. Treatments such as counselling for behaviour problems and communication coaching are some of the suggestions listed on the website.
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
http://www.nofas.org/default.aspx
This website is made by the U.S National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The NOFAS is dedicated to eliminate birth defects caused by mother’s alcohol intake during pregnancy and to improve the lives of those individual and families that are affected by FAS. This website provides information for educators, advocacy, health care professionals, family planning, and families who are affected by FAS. In the educator section, there is a link that teacher can use to purchase a K-12 Curriculum that introduces the harms of alcohol. This website also provides links to other FASD resources.
BCED: Teaching Students with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/fas/
The BCED website proves a resource guild book for teachers that will be working with FASD students. The resource book has a clear description of FASD students and their behaviours within the classroom. It also provides teachers with information about the different aspects of FASD, such as attention difficulties, social skills, motor skills, etc. There is also a list of FASD resources such as organizations, books, news articles, etc, for teachers and parents to look into. The websites provides information to help teachers construct an IEP for students with FASD. It also provides example IEPs of students with FASD. This website can be one of the main resources for teachers who work with FASD students.
FAS Community Resource Center
http://www.come-over.to/FASCRC/
The FAS community Resource Center is an U.S funded center. The headquarters of the resource center is located in Arizona. The website has many contributors that provide information concerning FASD. The contributor for this website ranges from medical doctors to mothers who have children with FASD. There are many examples stories of child with FASD on this website. This website also provides a link to an article that the American Academy of Paediatrics wrote about the diagnoses of FASD.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/115/1/39
Local contact info:
The Asante Centre for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Website: www.asantecentre.org
Email: info@asantecentre.org
Mailing Address:
22326(A) McIntosh Avenue,
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3C1
Phone:
Tel: (604) 467-7101
Fax: (604) 467-7102
This location provides different types of resources and training for teachers, social workers and family to support a child or adult with FASD.
FAS/E Support Network
Email: info@fetalalcohol.com
Mailing Address:
13279 72nd Ave.
Surrey BC V3W 2N5
Phone:
Tel: (604) 507-6675
Fax: (604) 507-6685
Fas/ADD Resource Centre
Website: www.mapleridge-fasadd-rc.com
Email: berylt@telus.net
Mailing Address:
12161 - 221 Street
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 5T2
Phone:
Tel: (604) 463-6750
Characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder:
Like all other learning disabilities, FAS varies from one child to the next. Teachers should adjust their teaching methods depending on the individual student. Here is a list of some of common characteristics of FASD.
Learning:
- Have focusing problems much like ADHD
- Students misunderstand or miss out instructions
- Have trouble transitioning between classes
- Memory deficiency
Physical:
- High threshold for pain
- No perception of hunger or satiation
- Difficulty perceiving extreme temperatures
- Difficulty with visual/spatial perception and balance
- Rejection of some sensory (hearing, sight, touch, etc.)
- Growth deficiency (shorter eye slits, no filter above the lips, short height, smaller head size, hockey stick hand)
- Heart, liver and kidney problems are common
- Neurological conditions such as seizure disorders (under developed Amyodala = emotional mirror in the brain)
- Impaired bone and/or joint development
- Miss social cues
- Act younger than their age
- Disorganized
- Easily manipulated and led by others
- Poor judgement skills
- Difficulty making and keeping friends
- Overly friendly and affectionate, easily approached by strangers
Information provided by: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/fas/
Curricular modifications or adaptations:
Art classes can be a wonderful experience for the FAS students. It encourages students to be creative and express their thoughts and feelings. It also teaches the students how to communicate with art. This will help to improve the student’s social and communication skills. Some minor adjustments will have to be made for the students.
Group work projects:
working in groups will help FASD students build on their social skills. This will also allow other students to interact with the FAS students. Communication between the different students will be made. This will not only help the FASD students to improve their social skills, but also allows the other students to understand the FASD student. Working on group projects in art will also allow the students to interact in a non-verbal manner.
Short breaks:
Keep the instructional portion of the class shorter. Allow the students to take short breaks decreases their anxiety levels. Short breaks also help the students to focus more when instructions are given.
Instructions:
Instructions need to be simplified. Giving the students a written copy of the instructions is very helpful. Use illustrations and examples will allow the students to understand the materials better. Teachers should limit the amount of instructions given and ask for the student’s feedback on the instructions. Let the students repeat the steps in their own words to check for understanding.
Transition time:
Students might lack the understanding of time. Set up a schedule or check list for the student. Using different colours to highlight different classes or actives is very helpful for the FASD student. A visual timer is also a way to improve the students’ understanding of time. Teacher might also need to demonstrate to the students how to transition between classes and activities.
Facts:
- No amount of alcohol and no time in pregnancy have been established as safe for the fetus.
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are the biggest single cause of mental disabilities in most industrialized countries, and could be totally prevented if all women abstained from alcohol in pregnancy.
- Some experts estimate that about 1% of North Americans suffer from a fetal alcohol disorder - about four times as many people as those with AIDS/HIV. There are three to five times as many people with ARND as FAS.
Information provided by: http://www.fasworld.com/aboutfasd.asp
- September, 09,1999 is the International FASD awareness day.
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