A Queensland based Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) support group has extended its support of families and carers of children with FASD, showcasing the latest information on parenting and teaching strategies, employment programs, and mental and physical health information on its new mobile friendly website.
Offering a unique mix of clinical and personal information, the Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association (rffada) website provides carers of children affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol, with access to up-to-date information and resources to assist in the prevention and treatment of FASD, together with information for health professionals as well as a range of tailored FASD training.
Rffada’s new digital service showcases the latest information on parenting and teaching strategies, employment programs, and mental and physical health information.
A lifetime condition, the underlying brain damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure can result in poor memory, impaired language and communication, poor impulse control and mental, social, behavioural and emotional problems.
A Commonwealth Parliamentary FASD Inquiry will shortly report on its findings, and last month saw the release of a fully-costed national plan to address the gaps in the prevention and management of FASD, by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).
Association founder and mother of two children diagnosed with FASD, Anne Russell knows all too well the enormous challenges faced by FASD carers in the absence of dedicated FASD services, and says the new mobile friendly web site is an example of something positive, and incredibly valuable that can be done now.
“FASD has been in the spotlight over the last two months, but I think it’s important to remember that when the media spotlight moves away the problem remains. FASD is an enormously challenging disability but there are small steps we can take now. Ensuring parents and carers of FASD children can easily access a broad range of information on FASD is one such step,” Ms Russell said.
The rffada website development was funded with support from FARE. FARE has previously invested over $2 million into a range of projects across Australia to provide a deeper understanding and much needed solutions to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, including the establishment of the first ever diagnostic clinic in Australia.
