- 1. "Now I know that I am notresponsible for getting
fetalalcohol syndrome, but I haveto learn to live with it. I
thinkFetal Alcohollife is hard...but I cant quit.-Liz Kulp, "The
Best I Can Be: Living Syndrome (FAS)With Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome/Effects"- By Deborah Brauer
2. Definition of Fetal AlcoholSyndrome: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
(FAS) falls underthe umbrella term of Fetal AlcoholSpectrum
Disorders (FASD) Because of the high rate of multipledisorders
co-existing with Fetal AlcoholSyndrome, FAS is not listed under
theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act(IDEA) specifically,
but is covered underthe "other health impairment" section ofIDEA.
3. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services and
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is defined by four major
components: 1. A characteristic 3. Brain damage, such pattern of
facial as a small skull at birth, abnormalities structural defects,
and (including small eyeneurological signs, including impaired fine
openings, an indistinct motor skills, poor hand- or flat philtrum,
and a eye coordination, and thin upper lip) tremors 2. Growth
deficiencies, 4. Maternal alcohol use including low birth during
pregnancy weightFetal Alcohol Syndrome is the most severe disorder
under the FASDumbrella, and accounts for 25% of all alcohol effect
disorders. -National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 4.
Causes of Fetal AlcoholSyndrome: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is caused
by maternalconsumption of alcohol and is the leading
preventablecause of intellectual disabilities (Education
Consortium). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is 100% preventable. Effects of
maternal alcohol consumption have beenlinked to "sensitive" or
"critical" periods in prenataldevelopment. The resulting
characteristics of maternalalcohol consumption can be extremely
varied becausedifferent areas of development will be effected
byalcohol at the different stages of fetal growth (Rice,Deborah,
and Barone, Stan, Environmental and HealthPerspectives). 5.
Characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
has a high rate of comorbidity withother disabilities. Common
comorbidities include: -40%ADHD -30% sensory -15-20%
mentalimpairmentretardation (or -4% cerebral palsyintellectual -30%
speech anddisabilities) language disorders -25%
learningdisabilitiesBurd, L, Cotsonas-Hassler, Tania M. et al.
"Recognition andManagement of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome."
Neurotoxicology andTeratology 6. Primary characteristics of
prenatal alcoholexposure can include: -Facial Dysmorphia -Epilepsy
-Height and weight deficiencies -Impaired vision -Mental
retardation -Serious maxilo-facial deformities -Developmental delay
-Cleft palate -Developmental speech and language disorders -Dental
abnormalities -Developmental coordination -Sensory integration
problems disorder -Hyper sensitivity to environmental -Tremors
stimuli -Autistic traits -Night terrors -Tourettes traits -Sleep
disorders -Deafness -Echolalia -Central auditory processing
-Sociopathic behavior disorder -Impaired emotional ability (lack of
-Impaired intellectual functioningempathy) -Impaired memory
-Difficulty with impulse control - ADD/ADHD -Cerebral Palsy
-Rigidity Complex seizure disorder -Tight hamstrings 7. Secondary
disabilities can occur in the child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome if
theprimary disabilities are not properly addressed.Secondary
disabilities span across several areas and caninclude: Education:
Independence: -Learning difficulties -Social problems -Misbehavior
-Poor peer choices -Difficulty establishing peer
-Addiction:relationships -Behavioral problems -Truancy -Reactive
outbursts -Chronic employment issues Mental Health:
-Poverty/Homelessness -Depression Sexuality: -Anxiety -Promiscuity
-Attachment difficulties -Early pregnancy -Eating disorders
-Prostitution -Hallucinations -Kulp, Liz and Jodee The Best I Can
Be, 7 -Suicide risk 8. How is Fetal Alcohol SyndromeDiagnosed?
Mostpeople who have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are diagnosed in early
childhood. One primary identifier is the presence of facial
deformities. 9. An official diagnosis of FetalAlcohol Syndrome
requires threefindings: 1. Three specific facial abnormalities 2.
Growth deficits 3. Central nervous system abnormalities Doctors
have difficulty diagnosing FAS in somesituations because of high
comorbidity rates,especially in cases when physicians do not
havemuch information about the individuals birthmother.(Cordero,
Floyd, and Gerberding, vi-vii, cdc.gov) 10. Parent and
FamilyPerspectives:"Both the mother and the child arevictims of
alcohol. The biological motherLiz and Jodee Kulp (Liz has Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome)did not knowingly harm the FASD child.As the
adoptive, foster or biological motheryou must move beond the shame,
guilt oranger in order to help your child andyourself.-FASD mom
(Kulp, Liz andJodee, 4) 11. Many parents of children with FAS
mention concerns abouthow their children are treated by other
children, and howtheir children will adjust as they grow older, and
expressfrustration and concern regarding their childrens
limitations: Concerning home education, one mother of a child with
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome wrote: "There were many missing
pieces-teaching herwas very, very difficult. It was like filling
abucket full of holes. As fast as theinformation went in, it seemed
to pour out. - Jodee Kulp, FAS mom 12. Iyals story: 13. Recommended
EducationalPractices for Students with FAS inthe classroom: 1. Give
one direction at a time: -Keep instructions uncomplicated and
clear, breakdown instructions into steps, rather than giving an
entiretask and expecting the student to break it down intosteps on
his own. 2. Reteach: Keep directions simple, break down
lessons/activitiesinto smaller pieces if necessary. -use repetition
and consistency -make sure you relate lessons to each other (build
onlearning) 14. Recommended Educational Practices(Contd): 3. Focus
on students strengths and encourage positivepeer interactions:
-watch students relationships with peers -provide opportunities for
student to further developsocial skills 4. Create a stable
environment with consistent rules andexpectations: -Use positive
feedback -Talk about what the students with FAS are doing
right,rather than focusing on what they dont do very well -Make
sure the classroom decor, sounds and lighting donot overstimulate
your students 15. Educational Practices: 5. Provide tactile
examples of what you are teaching: -Give the student with FAS
something he can touch,handle, and connect with the concepts of the
lesson -Multiple sensory input will help the student betterprocess
and integrate new informationNote: Classroom methods used for
students with FAS can beeasily adapted for students with other
disabilities because ofthe high comorbidity rate in students with
Fetal AlcoholSyndrome.(Kulp, 82, Watson, Sue "Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome," Blaschke, Maltaverne,Struck, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders Education Strategies, 41 ) 16. Activities: In an example
lesson for students with FAS,educational practices should include
hands-ontactile learning and peer interaction.A lesson on Canadian
Geography, forexample could include activities suchas the
following: 17. Activity One:-The instructor divides students into
pairs and gives each pair anobject or picture of an object (like
this photo of an earlyBombadiere snow machine from Manitoba) that
has culturalsignificance to a specific province. The pair of
students mustlisten to the lesson in order to understand what their
objectssignificance. Once the lesson is given, each pair will be
calledupon to explain their object to the rest of the class. 18.
Activity Two:-The instructor dividesstudents into groups, andgives
each group a largemap (made from posterboard or styrofoam
www.trailcanada.comboard)of the Canadianprovinces and
territories.The students objectives in thisEach student is given a
exercise are to complete thefew pieces and then the map within the
time limit andwhole class beginswork successfully with
hisassembling the puzzles at peers to finish the project.the same
time. 19. CITATIONS: US Department of Health and Human Services and
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration(SAMHSA). "The Language of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Disorders." Web. Accessed 24 November, 2012.
http://www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/documents/WYNKLanguageFASD2.pdf
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Web. Accessed 24
November,
2012.http://www.nofas.org/faqs/what-is-fetal-alcohol-syndrome-fas/
Rice, Deborah and Barone, Stan Jr. "Critical Periods of
Vulnerability for the Developing Nervous System: Evidence
FromHumans and Animal Models." Environmental and Health
Perspectives. Vol. 108, Supplement 3. 526. Jue 2000.
Print.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.ezproxy.library.und.edu/pmc/articles/PMC1637807/pdf/envhper00312-0143.pdf
"Fetal Alcohol Syndrome" TCHP Education Consortium. Web. December
2000. http://www.acbr.com/fas/FASbook2.pdf Burd, L,
Cotsonas-Hassler, Tania M. et al. "Recognition and management of
fetal alcohol syndrome." Elsevier Inc.Neurotoxicology and
Teratology 25 .2003. 681688. Web.
http://www.onesci.com/journals/science_journal_17.pdf Kulp, Liz and
Kulp, Jodee. "The Best I Can Be: Living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
or Effects." Better Endings NewBeginnings. 1-83. February, 2001.
Print. Blaschke, Kristen, Maltaverne, Marcia and Struck, Judy.
"Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Educational Practices."Center for
Disabilities, Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South
Dakota. p 41. 2009. Web. Accessed 25November, 2012.
http://www.usd.edu/medical-school/center-fordisabilities/upload/fasdeducationalstrategies.pdf
Liz and Jodee Kulp, image:
http://www.betterendings.org/LibertyRidgeMedia/BestICanBe.htm
Cordero, Floyd, and Gerberding. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Guidelines
for Referral and Diagnosis." National Center onBirth Defects and
Developmental Disabilities. vi-vii. Web. May, 2005. Accessed 24
November, 2012.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/documents/fas_guidelines_accessible.pdf