Fetal Alcohol Nova Scotia (FANS)
Lighting the way for awareness, education, support, and policy change.
Join us at our Connect, Correct, Next Steps Conference at the Halifax Tower Hotel
Friday, November 8, 2024
It’s time to vote in Nova Scotia. Let’s make FASD an election issue!
We need to talk about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
You know someone with FASD…
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a medical diagnosis for a lifelong, hidden disability that affects the brain and body of people who were prenatally exposed to alcohol.
Individuals with FASD will experience some degree of challenges with their daily living and executive functioning and need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social skills. Individuals with FASD have strengths and challenges and need support to reach their full potential.
FASD is recognized as one of the leading known causes of developmental disability in the western world. It affects conservatively 4% of the population, meaning about 40,000 of Nova Scotians live with FASD. The prevalence of FASD is greater than autism, Tourette’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and cerebral palsy combined. Canadian research indicates that FASD is 2.5 times more prevalent than autism alone. (CanFASD, 2018)
There is currently no annualized funding for services for families or individuals with FASD in Nova Scotia.
Want to know more? You have come to the right place. We can help.
