There is hope for our children.

1. DIAGNOSIS IS ESSENTIAL: In my naivete, I didn't want a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol for my child. FAS/FAE is a diagnosis with stigma. In reality it was the diagnosis that provided the keys to help Liz become a more productive and manageable person. We need to build public relations to destigmatize FASD. It is not a "bad" person or a "bad" label. With knowledge and acceptance we can move forward for families and persons with FASD. Age 12.5 was too late for the amount of work needed to help my daughter. We needed more time to revisit therapies and build stronger neural connections. I believe with an earlier awareness her adult life would hold more opportunities. We need to encourage struggling families to seek help. Diagnosis is the first step of getting the support families need.

2. NUTRITION IS VITAL in helping persons with compromised metabolic systems. A professional athlete knows the importance of nutrition and activity for peak performance. Our children who lack performance need access to all the tools a professional athlete uses to reach their peaks or hit their zone of performance. Each child needs a complete metabolic assessment. Does the child have chemical sensitivities, allergies, nutritional deficiencies, immune system issues or infections? Families need a clear understanding of deficiencies to support the health needs of their child and to help their child develop habits for later adult life.

3. NEURODEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE - Liz has brain damage no human being can repair. She is also a very alive, bright and sparkling teen with parts of her brain acting very creatively. At 14 she still had some of her infant reflexes engaged, she still did not know how to skip, one of her eyes was surpressed, she could not hear forground from background, she read poorly and struggled in math regardless the training. A thorough neurodevelopment evaluation provided information we could begin to build on. We learned where her academic and emotional stages of development were. We answered these questions. Could she make sense of what she hears? How did she experience her world - through her senses - balance, body space, touch? Could she work with both sides of her body together and at different times? What level of listening was she capable of? Could she think silently or was everything she thought expressed? What reflexes did she have? Did she understand time, sequencing or organization? What level of short-term memory did she have with sounds or vision? What happened when you mixed sounds and visual together? Did she overload? How did she breath? Could she understand what she saw? Did different situations changes her ability to see? Could she make mental pictures? Could she coordinated seeing and doing or seeing and hearing or hearing and doing? At what level? These were the keys that allowed us to begin to build her neural highway. We found out just what she knew and didn't know. It was FAScinating to Karl (my husband) and I that she had to be taught so many things. We didn't know she needed to be taught to roll over at 14, to learn to breathe throguh her nose, to see with both eyes, to hear one thing at a time, or to accept loving touch. All these things were teachable. By teaching Liz things others learn independently she has become a more independent and happy person. Karl and I believe this opportunity of growth is available for every person with FASD in different amounts. We cannot replace the areas of the brain that are missing or damaged, but we can build on the areas of the brain that are active and alive and alert. We can help Liz control what she is capable and learn to manage her life with the least restriction. At this point she will need an external brain - a person who loves her who can help her remain safe.

One last note. Liz's group Mo'Angels sings, raps and speaks out about FAS and how it affects individuals and society. Their message is TEENS HAVE THE POWER to make a difference. She and her group of teen friends believes that if enough teens know about the realities of FAS they will choose NOT to drink during pregnancy. That one generation can STOP Fetal Alcohol and it can be their generation. Visit www.moangels.com

Jodee Kulp
jodee@connetworks.com