Neurodiversity Celebration Week, recognized March 17-23, is about challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It’s a time to celebrate differences and empower every individual.  At its core, the term neurodiversity refers to “a world where neurological differences are recognized and respected as all other human variations.” 

Give FASD a Seat at the Neurodiversity Table 

Embracing neurodiversity includes Giving FASD a Seat at the Table and amplifying the voices of the FASD community. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) can be many things: a disability, a diagnosis, an identity, and a type of brain difference that sits under a larger umbrella of differences, alongside autism and ADHD, for example.  We know that FASD is often non-apparent and deeply stigmatized, and that individuals with FASD often receive less recognition, understanding, and support than individuals with other types of brain differences.   

FASD deserves to be part of the conversation around neurodiversity, especially since the central goal of the neurodiversity movement is to empower people with differences that have been left out of the conversation. Together, let’s reframe neurodiversity in a way that is truly inclusive of the FASD community. 

Everyone in the FASD and neurodiversity community deserves access to support where it is needed, without running into barriers or having to meet unfair qualifications.  People with FASD should be eligible to get the services and supports they need, and all those who are neurodivergent should have access to these services as well. 

The Neurodiversity and FASD movements make us all stronger. 

FASD awareness and neurodiversity go together.  Our communities are stronger together when we draw from each other’s work and momentum, feel inspired by each other’s passion, and are aligned in our missions and goals.  We all benefit when we accept each other’s differences, including brain differences, and including FASD.  Embracing neurodiversity allows us to support all differences and ways of being, including those of individuals with FASD. 

Neurodiversity informs how we think about FASD. 

We can apply the attitudes and the lessons from the neurodiversity movement to how we think about FASD: that individuals with FASD have brains that are uniquely different from others, and that functional impairments and deficits exist alongside unique strengths and positive traits.  We can reframe FASD in a way that invites broader thinking of other conditions and neurodiversity.  When we talk about specific terminology and diagnosis related to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), it’s important to be accurate and to be inclusive. 

Empowering people with living experience is crucial. 

Our mission is rooted in supporting and empowering people with the living experience of FASD.  We can do this in a variety of ways, including amplifying voices of the community, including people with FASD in our work, and recognizing the strengths within our community.  Neurodiversity sees disability and brain difference through a strength-based approach.  The FASD field is currently moving towards more of a strengths-based approach after years of looking primarily at the negative aspects of FASD and focusing much of its limited resources on prevention.  FASD United is dedicated to shifting the conversation toward empowerment and affirmation, while also recognizing the reality of the challenges that are associated with FASD and how this can impact individuals and families in profound ways.  The more we learn about FASD, the more nuance and complexity we find. 

See the uniqueness of each individual. 

As the saying goes, “If you’ve met one person with FASD, you have met one person with FASD.”  FASD encompasses such a wide spectrum, and no two people are impacted in the same way.  It is important to recognize that each person with FASD is a unique individual.  Like everyone else, people with FASD have the right to identify as they choose.  Choosing to identify as having FASD or being neurodivergent, or both, are all valid and it’s up to each individual.  When it comes to how we talk about FASD, we can frame it as “Diagnosis, not Definition.” 

Addressing language and stigma is so important. 

Though we know that FASD carriers a unique stigma due to its overlap with substance use and pregnancy, stigma can be an issue for everyone who is neurodivergent. The language we use is important.  We invite you to please refer to FASD United’s Language and Stigma Guide. The FASD community has so much in common with others in the neurodiversity community who all want to see each person treated with respect and be empowered and have the opportunity to be their authentic self and thrive as themselves. 

Look at disability through the social model. 

While FASD is distinct and unique, the challenges and struggles that individuals with FASD may experience share a lot in common with the challenges faced by others who are neurodivergent. 

The Social Model of Disability tells us that “disability is caused by the way society is organized, rather than by a person’s impairment or difference.” To overly-simplify the concept, The Social Model of Disability suggests that a wheelchair user is effectively “less disabled” in places with ramps and elevators than places with only stairs. It shows us how the experience of disability can be shaped by society and accommodations.  

Common challenges across different conditions, including FASD, occur in the areas of executive functioning, social relationships, learning, and overall physical health.  Individuals often struggle in the same systems of care: the education system, criminal justice system, and health system, among others.  When these systems are improved to accommodate those who are neurodivergent, people with FASD benefit.  As we work to make these systems FASD-informed, the benefits will extend towards all those with brain differences. 

Emma Baldwin, FASD United’s Development Associate, shares some of their own  experiences: “I was thinking about how the Social Model relates to neurodiversity. If the issues are ‘in my brain’, then how does the outside world affect that experience? I am autistic and work in the FASD community. We have so many similarities in experience and symptoms, but our most common struggles are when we interact with systems. Most diagnoses under the neurodivergent spectrum are correlated with issues with school, work, medical system, legal system, and/or housing.” 

Emma adds, “It’s important to me that people understand ‘neurodiversity’ is an intentionally broad term. Whether someone has chronic depression, bipolar, Parkinson’s, or FASD, they are included in this group. Personally, our issues are unique.  In society, our issues can be very similar.” 

Get Involved! 

To learn more about Neurodiversity Celebration Week and how you can get involved, please visit neurodiversityweek.com. 

For more information on FASD and neurodiversity, we encourage people to read the statement from the Canada FASD Research Network (CanFASD). 

FASD United encourages using advocacy tools that reputable organizations put out– we will be releasing our FASD Awareness Month toolkit at the end of summer.