Earlier this month, FASD United released its National Education Survey. This year, a small group of educators and FASD advocates worked to enhance the portion of the survey focused on educators and those in the larger education system. Previous years’ surveys have demonstrated that students with FASD and their families often face barriers and challenges when trying to access educational supports and services. These issues are seen across schools, districts, and states.
It is estimated that 1 in 20 students have FASD. This means that, on average, at least one student in every single classroom is living with the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Despite the prevalence of FASD, many educators often don’t know about FASD, the unique ways it differs from other brain-based disabilities, or how to best serve students living with FASD.
This year we are encouraging self-advocates and their families to both take the survey and to share it with the educators in their life. This could be their current or former teachers, principals/school administrators, paraeducators, and even those in teacher preparation programs. The aim is to gain a broader understanding of the gaps and opportunities in the current system so that FASD United and our partners can develop and refine programs and policies designed to meet the needs of students, their families, and the educational professionals that support them.
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