Northumberland OPP Acting Inspector Jeff Martin and members of the detachment walked around the community of Brighton as Northumberland County Recognizes September 9th as FASD Awareness Day.
FASD Awareness Day is a day to reflect and remember those who are impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
A presentation was made to Northumberland County Council, at their August 26, 2020 meeting by Rebound Child & Youth Services and a caregiver from the Northumberland FASD Caregiver Support Group. Council Members viewed this initiative as deserving of immediate attention, and a proclamation was declared that September 9th will be recognized annually in Northumberland County as FASD Awareness Day.
“FASD is a lifelong disability and those impacted need continuous support,” said Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director at Rebound. “September 9th is an important day to generate the awareness and support needed for those experiencing FASD.”
Since 1999, the 9th day of the 9th month (September 9th) has been recognized as International FASD Awareness Day worldwide. This day is devoted to raising awareness of FASD, to better the prevention, diagnosis, support, and education for people experiencing FASD. By recognizing this day within Northumberland County, the community has committed to the care and support of all its residents, including those experiencing FASD and their families.
Members of the community were encouraged to participate by wearing red shirts and painting red shoes on rocks which is a symbol of FASD.
Quick facts about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD):
· FASD is a lifelong brain-based disorder that occurs when a developing baby (fetus) is exposed to alcohol before birth
· Studies suggest that up to 4% of people in Canada have FASD – 1 in 25 or 1,451,600 Canadians
· No two people experiencing FASD will face the same challenges, due to the wide variation of effects alcohol has on the brain
· Most often, FASD is an invisible disability and is one of the most frequent causes of developmental disabilities in the western world
For more information and to learn about Northumberland’s FASD Caregiver Support Group, contact Rebound at www.rcys.ca.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
