You may notice people where red shoes today, or throughout September.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness (FASD) Month takes place this month and FASD Awareness Day is on Sept. 9.
The Shuswap Children’s Association hopes the community shows their support in raising awareness by wearing red this month. They also provide their FASD Keyworker Program which supports children, youth and their families.
According to the Shuswap Children’s Association, FASD is a physical disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. They say it affects about 4 per cent of Canadians, making it one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities in the country.
According Canada Public Health, FASD can impact people’s learning, memory, social skills,, physical health, emotional regulation and attention. Alcohol harms cell development, and the disorder is not hereditary.
The Shuswap Children’s Association is celebrating the strengths and resilience of people with FASD, and they want to break down the stigma around the disorder.
