1. Supporting Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

2. FASD in Alberta 1 in 100 are diagnosed
46,000 people diagnosed with FASD in Alberta
500 babies born affected a year
$1.8 million over a lifetime
Annual cost to Albertans $927.5 million
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3. What is FASD Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Brain injury to developing brain
Caused by alcohol exposure in utero
May look different in different individuals
A “consistent pattern of inconsistencies”
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4. -alcohol is a teratogen – meaning it can cross the placenta barrier and goes directly to the developing fetus
-alcohol interferes with developing cells of fetus at anytime in utero
-other drugs are also teratogenic…..heroin, crack, cocaine, meth, and prescription medications
-alcohol is the most damaging teratogen and the effects on the fetus are far worse then any drug
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5. How is FASD diagnosed?
Individuals are assessed by a multi-disciplinary team
3 key areas are looked at:
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Facial Dysmorphology
Brain Impairment
-Facial dysmorphology is very rare
-only happens with alcohol use days 19-21
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6. Brain Injury: Communication Memory Adaptive function Academics
Executive functions
Attention
Intelligence
Motor functioning
Affect Regulation
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7. Brain Growth
Brain develops from the bottom up, starts as a stem grows up and out
-cauliflower
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8. Developing Structures
Structures and function are affected at a basic level of development
-if most basic levels are impaired brainstem damage would result in fetus death
-further away from the base, the more damage
Glial cells development impaired
Neurons killed and impaired
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9. What do Educators See? Mental health problems
Disrupted school experiences
Easily victimized
Trouble with the law
Inappropriate sexual behaviour
Alcohol and drug problems
Problems with employment and living independently
(Streissguth, 1997)
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10. A new approach to professional learning: Professionals without Parachutes

11. PWP Goals
attain a shared understanding of the change and impacts possible in FASD
explore a 'process based' understanding of FASD that fosters responsive problem solving
support development of collaborative networks that are geared towards flexible and creative approaches in working with individuals with FASD
discuss application of research to support best practices
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12. The Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium and the Learning Network, on behalf of ARPDC and the School and Community Supports Branch at Alberta Education, developed a resource to develop teacher capacity to better support students with FASD.

13. The goals of the project were to:
Increase knowledge and understanding of FASD among professionals working with students with FASD
Build teacher capacity to better support students with FASD in the classroom context
Develop a learning resource package to support anytime, anywhere professional learning to build teacher capacity to support students with FASD.
Instructional videos, accompanying learning guides and additional resources were released this fall.

14. its effect on the brain and
Developed by Dr. Jacqueline Pei and her colleagues, this PD resource provides:
an explanation of FASD
its effect on the brain and
the impact it can have on student learning, social/emotional behaviour and the classroom environment.
Strategies for designing classroom instruction and routines to support students with FASD are also highlighted. 14

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16. Supporting Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Module #1: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Developing Brain
Module #2: Brain Structure VS Brain Function
Module #3: The Brain and Emotional Regulation . 16

17. How might you use these videos and modules with staff at your school?
These modules can be used by any person or staff wanting to understand Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

18. Additional Resources to Support

20. For more information, please contact:
Thank you!
For more information, please contact: