Fetal Alcohol Nova Scotia (FANS)
Lighting the way for awareness, education, support, and policy change.
September is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month.
What’s Happening…
Thanks to all who joined us for our first annual FASD Awareness Walk and Flag raising on Saturday, September 6, 2025. We had a good turnout of great people. Our host MLA, Lisa Lachance, NDP Speaker of the House, was joined by her NDP colleagues, Rod Wilson and Lina Hamid. Greetings from Premier Houston were given by The Honourable Leah Martin, who also proclaimed September as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month in Nova Scotia. Thanks to all who made it happen!
Don’t miss our 4th Annual FASD conference!
Friday, November 21, 2025
Halifax Tower Hotel
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Learn. Collaborate.Act.
Join Fetal Alcohol Nova Scotia (FANS) for our 4th annual conference - A dynamic, hands-on gathering bringing together:
researchers, service providers, community leaders, and people with lived experience to tackle the real-world challenges of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
This year’s theme — Learn. Collaborate. Act. — moves us from conversation to action. With experts from CanFASD leading interactive breakout sessions, we’ll focus on three critical areas:
Diagnosis & Assessment – improving access and accuracy across the lifespan
Justice – addressing the unique needs of individuals with FASD in the legal system
Housing – creating safe, supportive, and sustainable housing options
Whether you’re a professional, a family member, an advocate, or a community partner, you’ll leave with new knowledge, practical strategies, and stronger connections to drive change in your work and community.
Why attend?
Engage directly with researchers and peers in collaborative breakout sessions
Gain practical tools and approaches you can apply immediately
Be part of shaping solutions for FASD in Nova Scotia and beyond
Let’s work together to create meaningful change — one connection, one conversation, and one action at a time.
Book your tickets on Eventbrite now…
FANS distributes an FASD “Roadmap To Excellence” to the MLAs of the 65th Legislative Assembly as a response to Bill 107
Let your voice be heard!
Tell the Houston government why FASD is a priority!
premier@novascotia.ca Phone: 902-424-6600
…Or meet with you local MLA to start the discussion! https://nslegislature.ca/members/profiles/contact
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.
Want to receive our informative newsletters? Email us, and we will put you on our mailing list.
fetalalcoholnovascotia@gmail.com
