Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, more commonly referred to as FASD is a continuum of permanent birth defects caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS is just one branch of the spectrum of fetal alcohol related disorders. The amount of Aboriginal children inflicted with this disease across Canada and especially in Manitoba is significantly overrepresented compared to those children who are not of Aboriginal descent. The population of children in the child welfare system in Canada who have are affected by these disorders are overwhelming. (Fuchs et al., 2010).
Due to the range of disorders within the Fetal Alcohol spectrum there is also a range in the severity of birth defects that can occur. According to Wikipedia the main characteristic of FASD are distinct facial abnormalities which include: a flattened groove between the nose and upper lip, a thin upper lip, and a shortened width between the eyes. A child born with FASD has many neurological disorders which result in learning disabilities, cognition problems, impulse control and poor motor functioning. Though FASD would be prominently thought of as a learning and behavior disability, it also greatly affects physical aspects of a child’s development. Due to the decreased size of the cerebellum children have poor motor functioning, which ranges from difficulty writing and holding small objects, to complications with riding bikes and in some extreme cases even walking. (Wiki).
The number of children with FASD in the Manitoba welfare system sadly continues to increase.(Bennet et al., 2010). There is a great need for education so that we can decrease this easily preventable disorder. The government recognizes the impact of historical events in Manitoba which have led to alcohol addictions within Aboriginal people. Colonization, residential school, and welfare intervention has led the Aboriginal people to a disconnection of their language and culture. This cultural genocide of the Aboriginal people has led countless individuals to alcohol dependencies as they try to cope with these hardships. A report conducted in 2003 showed the rate of disability as twice as high for Aboriginal people compared to non Aboriginal. (Fuchs et al., 2010). It is the addictions to alcohol and other substances which are causing the high number of defects and disabilities within the Aboriginal population.
Having a disability such as FASD requires support, education, and funding. Many Aboriginal people living on reserves are unable to access these resources simply because they do not exist where they are living. Many times these children are voluntarily placed into the child welfare system so that they can access the support they need related to their condition. There are service gaps for Aboriginal children with special needs who live on and even off of a reserve. The government is trying desperately to increase education and resources so that children with disabilities such as FASD will not have to leave their homes and reserves in order to receive medical treatment and therapy. (Bennett et al., 2010).
I believe that the government needs to continue to reach out to Aboriginal communities and reserves so that education and support can be implemented within their own culture. Instead of parents having to send their children into the child welfare system so they can receive adequate treatment, parents should be given the resources and education to treat, and more importantly prevent these diseases from occurring. Fetal Alcohol syndrome and its related disorders are caused by drinking during pregnancy. Therefore if these women simply did not drink during their pregnancy the epidemic of this disease could cease. However, it is obviously not a simple solution. The root of these alcohol addictions stem from the historical tragedies as well as continued neglect of the Aboriginal people in Canada. To prevent these diseases and disabilities caused by drinking we must first improve the root of the problem. I think that the more the government does to educate pregnant women about the impact of maternal drinking, as well as support them throughout their pregnancies, the lower the rate of Aboriginal FASD will become. I don’t think there is any fast strategy to completely stop these preventable diseases, but every bit of education and support is a step in the right direction.
-Eliza R.
Bennett, Marlyn., Wekerle, Christine., Zangeneh, Masood. (2010). Aboriginal Health- the overlap amongst maltreatment, metal health, and addictive behaviors- The way forward. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Special Issue: Indigenous health, 8(2), 127-134.
Fuchs, Don., Burnside, Linda., Marchenski, Sheila., Mudry, Andria. (2010). Children with FASD- related disabilities receiving services from child welfare agencies in Manitoba. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8(2), 232-244.
-Eliza R.
Hello Eliza, I also agree that the government needs to try and bring in more supports and services in to reserves to help prevent FASD or give the proper support in which these individuals need. After reading your blog and doing one myself on aboriginals I realized I didn’t know as much about aboriginals’ issues as I thought and how the past was a big factor. This goes to show how important it is to educate the community and ourselves as possible future social workers about these issues and what we can do to solve them.
ReplyDeleteNicole G
Good post! I'm actually thinking about doing a post for FASD in the province of Ontario. I agree that the government needs to make a greater effort to reach out to aboriginal communities to support awareness for FASD and give support for children with FASD. It is not their fault. While a father drinking cannot cause a baby to have FASD, I think it is important to note that a father's drinking can mutate sperm which can lead to birth defects,a miscarriage or cause the baby to be ill. I've been reading a bit about FASD and i've noticed in more than one place that is says that FASD itself is not a diagnosis and it is several conditions. Do you know anything about this in Manitoba?
ReplyDeleteTiffany
I agree that the government should provide even more education to pregnant women, especially those who are Aboriginal to help prevent FAS. It is unfortunate to hear that the rate of FAS is increasing. But this indicates that something needs to be done. It is nice to know that the government is stepping in. Hopefully, there will be more effective resources in helping to prevent FAS, such as educational programs, support programs, and resources programs. I think the key thing in preventing FAS is to educate the women about the negative impacts that drinking while pregnant will have; such as facial abnormalities and the decrease of size of the cerebellum. Not only do women need to be educated about drinking while pregnant, but they should be educated on the effects that drinking a lot around children has.
ReplyDeleteAshley R.
I have a cousin who has FASD, and although he is considered mentally handicap and may have some abnormal facial features to me he is quite normal. He is extremely funny, and probably one of the friendliest people you would ever meet. He also has great memory for remembering names, and activities you enjoy. He was married for a while and was living on his own. Although my cousin has FASD, he is still fairly independent. But I do agree with your blog that he has had a lot of support and definitely needs extra funding and special education. And I am not positive if he is on welfare or not. I would find it very upsetting if I knew my cousin could not get the support, help and education he needs to be the independent person he is today. I hope the government does increase the resources for the aboriginal children and families with children of FASD. I also thought it was a good point you made for the government to first educate about FASD and get to the root of the problem which will most certainly assist in preventing FASD.
ReplyDeleteAutumn B.
Good research, well presented, Eliza.
ReplyDeleteI want to push everyone's thinking a step further...
If the cause of the alcoholism is related to structural conditions such as colonization (which continues to this day), horrendous living conditions (e.g., no running water for many), poverty, etc.... do you think that educational programs aimed at individual mothers will be an effective solution?
Without wishing to diminish individual responsibility for one's actions, it's also important to understand that problems with structural causes also need structural solutions. So the Aboriginal Healing
Foundation funded programs in communities to help people heal from the Indian Residential Schools, which, as a by product, helps people address their problems with drinking. Except the government cut the funding, despite pleas by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We cannot look at FASD as separate from these other issues, otherwise we end up blaming mothers for the full weight of colonization processes. Education is a cognitive intervention and that level of intervention is not enough to address all the layers of the problem that end up with one individual mother, drinking, who has a child with FAS.