HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-03-16, Page 1414 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Province has new plan to tackle Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Christopher I. Cobb
Postmedia Network
The Ontario government is set to
announce the province's first strat-
egy to combat Fetal Alcohol Spec-
trum Disorder (FASD) - a strategy
expected to include a massive edu-
cation effort aimed at would-be
mothers, teachers and health care
providers.
According to Health Canada,
300,000 people are living with
FASD. Researchers say that num-
ber is an underestimate because of
widespread ignorance about the
condition among physicians, who
misdiagnose the disorder, and bio-
logical mothers who fear the stigma
that might result from admitting
they drank alcohol during their
pregnancies.
Most FASD sufferers have atten-
tion deficit disorder, which
researchers say is often diagnosed
and medicated as a single, non
alcohol-related disorder when it is
the opposite.
The causes and impact of FASD
on affected children and their fami-
lies has long been neglected by
government.
In developing its strategy, the
Ontario Ministry of Children and
Youth Services has held province -
wide round table meetings and con-
sulted with expert researchers in the
field.
Educating sexually active
women about the dangers of drink-
ing alcohol is considered crucial
because an estimated 50 per cent of
all pregnancies are unplanned -
meaning that women often don't
know they are pregnant and unwit-
tingly continue drinking during the
critical early development of the
fetus.
One aim of the education pro-
gram is expected to attempt to
crush the myth that only babies
born to alcoholic or heavy -drinking
mothers are potential victims of
FASD.
Research is suggesting that even
moderate, social drinking by preg-
nant women can damage their
baby's brain if the alcohol is con-
sumed at a critical time of brain
development. In other words, it is
often a question of timing and not
quantity.
According to a spokesperson for
Children and Youth Minister Tracy
MacCharles, the new strategy will
focus on:
• Awareness and Prevention.
• Screening, assessment and
diagnosis.
• Programs and services.
• Support for families and
caregivers.
The Ontario government is set to
announce the province's first strat-
egy to combat Fetal Alcohol Spec-
trum Disorder (FASD) - a strategy
expected to include a massive edu-
cation effort aimed at would-be
mothers, teachers and health care
providers. Durham MPP Granville
Anderson (above) said in a report
that FASD prevention is complex
but that awareness needs increas-
ing and stigma needs eliminating.
Durham MPP Granville Ander-
son said in a report that FASD pre-
vention is complex but that aware-
ness needs increasing and stigma
needs eliminating.
"There is a need to broaden
FASD awareness campaigns to tar-
get the public in the hopes
of preventing new cases while
removing the stigma for people
currently affected by FASD," he
said. "We need to start talking
about FASD and how we can
decrease its prevalence in Ontario"
FASD cost Canada at least $1.8
billion in 2013 — the latest figure
available and, coincidentally, the
Liquor Control Board of Ontario's
profit at the end of the 2014-15 fis-
cal year.
It isn't clear whether the LCBO
will be brought into the public edu-
cation mix. As an agency of govern-
ment, its only financial obligation
is to turn over its profit to provin-
cial coffers.
Long time advocate for FASD
victims, Elspeth Ross, told the Citi-
zen Thursday that it's time for the
disorder to be recognized so vic-
tims can get access to provincially -
funded services they are currently
locked out of.
For example, she says, people
with FASD don't qualify for ser-
vices under Developmental Ser-
vices Ontario, which assess poten-
tial clients based on IQ.
While FASD inflicts a varied
range of developmental damage,
its victims are invariably high -func-
tioning and articulate.
"Young adults with FASD need
help transitioning to adult services
and need employment support,'
said Ross. "They have special
needs."
Ross and her fellow advocates
want Ontario to join the Canada
FASD Research Network that began
in the prairie provinces and now
has British Columbia and New
Brunswick as members.
"We lack organizations to speak
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The Ontario government is set to announce the province's first strategy to
combat Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
for us," said Ross, who has two
adult sons with FASD. "It's frustrat-
ing that all the work is being done
by the grassroots."
A groundbreaking program
called the Ottawa Fetal Alcohol
Resource Program, launched last
August by Citizen Advocacy has
been educating professionals such
as judges, lawyers, parole officers,
EXTRA SPECIAL 2ND
(102 that is!)
Birthday Wishes U
to Jean Lunn
on March 18, 2016
from her Family, Friends
and Neighbours
police officers, teachers, and social
workers about FASD.
(FASD children are often misun-
derstood by teachers who have no
training in the disorder and by
police, courts and corrections offic-
ers. Many people with FASD run
afoul of the police and justice sys-
tem in part because they are often
unable to understand potential
repercussions of their actions.)
About 160 people have been
"trained" since the program began.
The ministry is expected to
unveil general details of its FASD
strategy at a one -day symposium
on March 24, followed by a formal
unveiling later in the spring.
More information on the Ottawa
FASD free education program at
www.citizenadvocacy.org
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