FASD news and Awareness initiatives

Thank you to all who have been passing information along.  This blog is a bit of a collection of tidbits and news from the past couple weeks.

The Rural FASD Support Network made the decision to continue a virtual presence to celebrate FASD Awareness Day this Sunday.  Lake 88 elected to make their Friday In Focus show about FASD and had us come in and share some information.  To hear the interview, please go to http://lake88.ca/2018/09/07/in-focus-fri-sept-7-2018-fasd-awareness-day/  They also posted the interview on their Facebook page.  Be sure and listen for Sky talking about what she would like for people to know about her.   Please feel free to share and like.  The United County of Leeds-Grenville also officially declared Sept 9 as FASD Awareness Day and posted through the municipality news feed so every municipality in Ontario received this announcement.  I didn't expect them to post the blog site on the announcement so welcome any new readers.  https://www.leedsgrenville.com/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=a15ddc80-e1bc-4f3b-b777-4c492c835c17

The Network is getting excited about Sept 15 when we do our official launch for the physical group.  We have confirmed Minister Steve Clark of Housing and Municipal Affairs will be attending and saying a few words and sticking around afterwards to talk with folks.  We have confirmation of attendance for members of the Public Health Unit, Mental Health Unit, Open Doors, OPP detachment, and our Key Workers will be in attendance taking referrals.  It sounds like we may have around 20 families and children in attendance and Julie Mercier is providing child care who is used to working with children with FASD.  Thank you to all who have contributed to costs.  As stated before, we intend to livestream and record our monthly speakers through our Facebook page with Tanya Eichler, psychotherapist for next week.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/RuralFASDOntario/?ref=bookmarks

Health Nexus is getting close to rolling out both of their initiatives involving the website and support group funding.  To get notification of when the website goes live, go to https://bit.ly/2PA0oDw .  We are also expecting an announcement from them soon saying the application for support group funding is now live with applications.

The Government of Ontario is currently taking consultation from the public.  The items I am listing is Passport and SSAH Funding eligibility through MCSS, provincial-wide strategy for FASD in Education, and increased diagnostic capacity in Health.  https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-review-ontario-government-spending?_ga=2.100304861.234184700.1535739480-77602624.1524938653

The Ontario Human Rights Commission also just released their latest report on the status of special education in our school systems today.  http://ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-accessible-education-students-disabilities  With the completion of the first week of school, I am extremely cognizant of the hot topics of discussion and the amount of misinformation floating around.  I will do a blog probably in a couple weeks on how to advocate in the school system but I'm hoping to record my presentations on Sept 20 at the Ottawa Adopt4Life support group meeting and then at the Ottawa FASD Symposium on Nov 3 with Jonathan and Janet.  http://fasdconnection.ca/event/2018-fasd-eastern-ontario-symposium/  It absolutely pains me to see how so many of you are struggling with your schools when I know it can be so much better.  When I read through the OHRC report, the nine ongoing barriers really stood out for me which I fully agree with.  

1) ineffective communication to parents and students about their right to accommodation, and their right to be free from discrimination and harassment in education

2) inadequate training for education providers on disability-related issues, and the duty to accommodate students with disabilities

3) insufficient resources and supports in the classroom

4) long waiting lists for assessments

5) negative attitudes and stereotypes

6) physical inaccessibility

7) inappropriate requests for medical information

8) ineffective dispute resolution processes

9) outright denial of disability-related accommodations

The reason they stood out, though, is the only barriers a teacher or principal have any control over is #1, 2, 5 and 9.  And they can all be changed through communication, collaboration and clarity.  I understand why we are seeing more and more advocates joining forces with parents because it is difficult to navigate but I would still encourage you to always assume your school wants to help, they are either limited by  #3, 4, 6, 7, or 8 or aren’t sure what the solution should be.