All about ASL:
FASD
On this page we talk all about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – called FASD for short.
We spoke to David and Joanne, two young people with FASD. They told us all about FASD and what support can help children with FASD at school.
What is FASD?
FASD stands for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. It is a disability that people are born with if alcohol affects them before they are born. It is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means it affects the way a person’s brain develops.
FASD affects different people in different ways. It’s a hidden disability – you can’t tell if someone has FASD just by looking at them.
What is it like to have FASD?
The FASD Hub created this video to explain what it’s like to have FASD:
People with FASD often have strong social skills. Some people with FASD are very good at sports.
Joanne says “I do football, swimming, archery and athletics and have won lots of awards.”
FASD can mean that your body works faster than your brain. This sometimes means that you act before your brain has a chance to think.
David shares an example – “When I was younger, I ran across the road without looking.”
FASD at school
FASD can be an additional support need, which means you have the right to support at school.
If you have FASD, you might need support with:
Everyone is different and your support should work for you. Joanne and David both find having a support assistant helps them. Joanne says, “I need a lot of help from support assistants. I need time, too.”
David also found it helpful to have some time in his school’s sensory room. He said, “The Support for Learning teacher created a sensory room for me. I go there to calm down or when I am on a break.”
Having teachers who are patient and supportive can really help. Joanne says her favourite teacher was her PE teacher, because “he was always coming round and checking I was ok and to see if I needed help or anything.”
With the right support in place, young people with FASD can achieve in lots of different ways. Joanne is proud because she has completed her National 4 English, and David is doing Higher Music.
Joanne says, “I quite enjoyed school. I just needed a bit of help with my learning.”
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR LEARNING (asl)
One way your school can help you is through additional support for learning (ASL).
ASL is provided for pupils who need extra support to help them learn.
This can include children and young people with FASD.
ASL can include a wide range of support, such as:
- Extra help planning your work
- More regular check-ins with your teacher to keep you on track
- Support from a learning assistant
- Access to technology that helps you.
TOP TIP
FROM DAVID AND JOANNE
If you have FASD, or think you might have FASD, Joanne and David have some advice to share. They said:
“Be yourself. Ask for help.
Don’t be afraid of your disability.”
who else can help?
FASD hub Scotland are an organisation that can offer support and advice about FASD.
Click the button below to find out more:
If you are 12-15 and having difficulty speaking to your school about support, then an organisation called My Rights, My Say can help.
You can contact them by hitting the button below.
