FASD Service Dogs

In the past few years some young people with FASD have begun using psychiatric service dogs with good results. The dogs both protect children and calm them. They can be trained to meet a specific child’s individual needs. For example, a service dog can deter a teenager from self-harming and running away. They can keep an overly trusting FASD-affected child safe from traffic and from stranger danger. The dog basically serves as a kind of "external brain."

Besides guarding a child’s physical safety, the dog’s natural affection can help improve a child's self-awareness, personal identity, and emotional health. The service dog’s attentive presence and cuddly weight can help calm a distraught child. Their unconditional love has improved general emotional well-being and empathy for others. Language usage, focus, and attention span have all been reported to have improved in individual children thanks to the bond with their service dog. 

More about FASD service dogs:

4pawsforability  

Connor and Lexi's Story

Service dog story for children

Above Heart Lake

Today Ron and I hiked to Heart Lake and Rogers Pass. That's me in the photo, a speck in the panoramic view at 12,000 feet. While walking, I found myself thinking about the heart of my memoir about our experience with Sandy.

When Sandy was in middle school and we were in the depths of despair over the increasingly horrifying events in her life, a voice came to me as I was walking and pondering. "Just stick with her," it said as clearly and kindly as if a wise counselor were walking next to me.

The words of the voice sustained me. The fact of the voice astounded me. I clung to the belief that we were not alone. Maybe there was meaning to this overwhelming mess.

It was not until the end of Sandy's life that I truly understood the significance of what I heard. By sticking with her--however imperfectly--we were able to show her that we loved her.

Despite all her attempts to push us away, Sandy saw that we wouldn't give up. Limping, stumbling, even crawling, we forged a bond of love, as important for us as it was to her.

All I can say is thank you.

FASD Communities

While out walking this week, I found myself pondering what else we could have done to help Sandy when she was a young adult. Once she turned eighteen, she needed so much emotional support and practical guidance, yet so little was available to her.

Sandy always had a great love of animals. What would it take to establish a self-supporting community with structure and therapy, centered around animal care—doggie day care, grooming, a kennel for overnight boarding of pets? What if Sandy had been able to live in a setting of camaraderie, positive direction, and satisfying, productive work?

Such places are now being developed! In 2011 FASD Communities was founded in Hawaii. This group of parents, social workers, and therapists aims to provide a supportive, self-sustaining working and living center, so that when those affected by FASD grow up, they can participate in a community that understands and supports their needs.

Despite damage to certain parts of the brain, people with fetal alcohol exposure have talents and skills. With care, attention, and supervision they can participate as positive, productive members of society.

They deserve a realistic chance to do so. They deserve the chance to have a life.

Information for Teens

Congratulations to the middle school creator of the prize-winning poster above.

Getting FASD information to teenagers is so very important! Santa Clara County, California made this video for teens. Much of it is from the young mother’s point of view, with information about the effects of alcohol and testimonials from people affected by FASD.

What a big difference it would make to have these facts available to all teenagers!

Fathers

Happy Father's Day, dads--I hope you know how important you are! Not only is your emotional support vital to the growth and development of your children, it turns out that avoiding alcohol and exposure to other toxins is, too. Fathers do not directly cause FASD, but alcohol use can damage sperm, resulting in learning disabilities and hyperactivity in children.

Thanks and much love, Ron (pictured above with Molly), for being such a great partner and dad these past remarkable thirty-five years.

Share Your FASD Story

Eileen Bisgard, executive director of NOFAS in Colorado and juvenile court attorney, shares her personal story. To tell your FASD story, email information@nofas.org.

Words

This recent Radio Lab episode reminded us so much of Sandy. When she came to us at age two-and-a-half, the social worker told us she had a speech delay.

In those first months we delighted in her learning words and stringing them together. She gravitated toward nouns. When she formed crude sentences, they always led.

Then after being with us for three months, Sandy shocked us by crying, “Sandy my name, Sandy my name,” over and over, clapping herself on the chest. For hours.

We’d assumed she'd known her name. She seemed to respond to it.

How had we not known? Was it a dawning concept of self? What was her mindset before?

And how do we step outside our most basic assumptions?