The purpose of this factsheet
This factsheet will assist secondary school teaching and support staff to better understand social and emotional development in adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). It also aims to provide strategies to assist educators to support the social and emotional development and wellbeing of young people with FASD in the school environment.
Every young person with FASD is different, often in significant ways and will have their own strengths and challenges. These strategies may not be effective every time and maintaining flexibility is crucial when supporting young people with FASD. It’s important to note that FASD is so prevalent many educators may not realise they are interacting daily with students who have undiagnosed FASD or FASD that has been misdiagnosed as another neurodevelopmental disorder. The information in this factsheet will be useful for all students with social and emotional difficulties, even if a young person does not have a formal FASD diagnosis. As the pathway to a FASD diagnosis can be lengthy, it’s important that support strategies are implemented as soon as possible.