I have FASD
This information was written just for people who are living with FASD. When we say living with FASD, this means that individuals were exposed to alcohol before they were born. You might also hear this called prenatal alcohol exposure or exposure to alcohol in the womb. The disability that infants, children, youth or adults have when exposed to alcohol in the womb is called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or FASD for short.
Some people might not be sure if they were exposed to alcohol before being born. Even if you are not sure, you can still learn good information about FASD. Knowing about FASD will also help your parents, friends, mentors, teachers, employers or other people to understand FASD.
Because you have FASD, your life might be different from some people. You might need to learn things differently. You might need extra help to get a job or make big decisions. The more you learn about FASD, the better you will be able to talk about your own experiences, your own strengths and your own struggles. When you have words to express yourself you can explain FASD and your brain differences to others. You can help them to understand instead of blaming or judging. When you understand FASD, you may be more able to accept our own strengths and struggles. You might also have friends, family members or know people in your community who have FASD. Knowing about FASD will help you to understand them and their unique experiences.