FASD Resources and Support Services

Experiences of parents raising children with FASD indicate that there are many useful strategies one can use to help these children learn and develop to their greatest potential. Many books and newsletters are available on FASD, including the following:

Newsletters

Iceberg, P.O. Box 95597, Seattle, WA 98145-2597. $10 one-year subscription; $15 two years. Iceberg is an educational newsletter for people concerned about FAS and FAE. It’s published by the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Information Service. The newsletter is so named because the problems we readily see are only the tip of the iceberg.

Growing with FAS, c/o Pamela Groves, 7802 S.E. Taylor, Portland, OR 97215. $12 per year.

Books

"My Name is Amanda and I Have FAE - A Book for Young Children with FASD" is published ($8.50) by FASD Support Network of B.C. You can reach them at fasnet@istar.ca or by phone at 604/589-1854. I ordered some fantastic booklets from them that you might find helpful:

"Layman's Guide to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects" (15.00) which is going to help me, I hope, in educating the caseworkers in the need for special programs. Also, "FASD and Education: The Art of Making a Difference" is very good. ($15.00)

Fantastic Antone Succeeds: Experiences in Educating Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, edited by Judith Kleinfeld and Siobhan Wescott. University of Alaska Press, 1993. This book includes chapters written by parents, teachers, and professionals who share what they have learned about working with children with FAS. It’s about strategies for handling the problems of FAS and includes descriptions of effective home and classroom practice. Also included is a list of useful resources, videos, and articles.

The Broken Chord, by Michael Dorris. A gifted writer, Dorris gives an account of his family’s struggle with the effects of FAS on his adopted son, Adam. This book and the subsequent movie brought about significant public awareness of FASD.

Booklet

FAS: Parenting Children Children Affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome—A Guide to Daily Living, edited by Rana Shaskin. Available for $7.50 from the Society of Special Needs Adoptive Parents (SNAP), 1150-409 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1T2. This 26-page booklet describes the commonly observed characteristics of children with FASD. It then offers suggestions from parents and professionals for addressing some of these difficulties by structuring daily living activities.