Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Tragic But Preventable
develop a comprehensive website, the Alcohol Related Birth Injury Resource Site (www.arbi.org), which has a number of special features.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a disability that creates problems for an individual at various stages of development and throughout his or her life. One of the difficulties with FAS is that it is not as readily identified as other disabilities, and in certain environments the individual may present in a manner that may not be reflective of his or her level of functioning. A serious social issue for persons affected by FAS is unrealistic expectations that often lead to failure. People with FAS often have problems at home and school and are vulnerable in situations of violence. They often end up in the care of others outside of their family of origin. They may experience multiple life transitions, such as frequent moves, a lack of ability to hold a job, lack of budgeting skills and socialization problems.
Parents should always accept requests for help from an individual with FAS and not dismiss them, as this builds skills for the future and can be transferred to other environments.
On January 10, Dr. Sterling Clarren, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington and a leading expert in FAS, met in Calgary with a group representing provincial and federal government departments and community agencies dealing with FAS. He suggested that Alberta has taken a strong lead in the development and delivery of services for persons with FAS and that we must break down the barriers of traditional models of service delivery and consider an approach of lifelong support and managed care. Our traditional approach of helping individuals is that we intervene and expect to move on. "We have built a system that does not include this kind of kid," Dr. Clarren said. As long as we continue to assess these individuals on IQ without serious consideration for social and functional skills, we will not provide the type of service required. He suggests that the development of community clinics utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach is crucial for people with FAS.
Another significant issue related to FAS is the social stigma attached to substance abuse during pregnancy, leading to a lack of reporting of incidence. There is not a great deal of research that identifies the numbers of individuals affected by FAS. A news release by the Government of Alberta on September 9, 1999, stated that, in Alberta,
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