Join the Steelers to recognize FASD Awareness Day, learn, and support members of our comunity
The message that all brains are beautiful is one that the Interlake FASD has been spreading in our community for years. This year, in recognition of International FASD Awareness Day, the FASC Committee is teaming up with the Selkirk Steelers to spread awareness at their Sept. 12 game against the Winnipeg Blues.
“The Interlake FASD committee is a group of like-minded individuals based out of Selkirk who have an interest in learning more about FASD and spreading awareness about FASD across the Interlake,” said Sherrise Pickly Dear, Interlake FASD Coalition Co-Chair.
FASD or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a condition that occurs when a developing fetus is exposed to alcohol. This results in a variety of brain differences that are unique to each individual with FASD.
Though International FASD Awareness Day takes place on Sept. 9, the Interlake FASD Committee wanted to do something a little different this year.
“We acknowledge International FASD Awareness Day, which is September 9, to signify the nine months of pregnancy. This year, we’re doing it on the 12, because that’s when the Steelers are having a pre-season game,” said Pickly Dear.
She said that they decided that they wanted to focus on reaching a new group of Selkirk and area residents this year and thought that the Steelers could help them do just that.
“In the past, we’ve held events like FASD day in certain spots in the community, and have had the public come to us. This year, to try a different route, we thought we would come to the public. Instead of having the people come to us, we’re going to go to the people and we figured there’d be a lot of traffic here,” she explained.
She explained that with the committee members being local hockey fans, and Selkirk being a hockey city, it seemed like a perfect fit.
Brett Suski, who is also a Co-Chair on the Interlake FASD Committee, has been planning this awareness event for several months now.
“We have pins and temporary tattoos to give away. We’ll have a little True or False kind of board game where, if they participate, we’ll give them a pin or a temporary tattoo, and there will be information and local resources about FASD,” he said.
Pickly Dear added, “We’re just chatting with people about (FASD) and what they may not know or they may have an idea of what it is. Having conversations with people who are in our field helps break down the barriers and the stigma. There’s, unfortunately, a lot of stigma associated with FASD, and one of our goals with this committee is to reduce that stigma. People with FASD are just like you and me.”
The goal of this event is to have people in our community learn more about FASD and understand more about the condition, which is way more complicated than people realize.”
Suski explained that the stigma associated with FASD is not helpful.
“I think it’s just reducing the stigma and just having people be comfortable with saying FASD without having to whisper it, or we can’t talk about that unless we’re in an office or behind a closed door where no one can hear it. It’s a normal word,” he said.
“People need to realize that people with FASD are like everybody else. They just have some different brain structures, really. We all have differences. Folks with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder may struggle in certain areas, but they may excel in others. And so, having conversations with the general public will help to dispel some of those myths and clarify what the diagnostic criteria is, what the process is for assessment, what sort of supports are available through the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority to help families and children, what the diagnostic standards, what the guidelines are for Canada and just general information,” said Pickly Dear.
Some of the most important things that they both wish that people knew about FASD are that there are supports in our community for people with FASD.
“Some kids do struggle in school because of their learning differences. And the key worker program and the diagnostic coordinators employed by the Health Authority can help kids in schools and help the teachers and other professionals understand brain differences and then make the appropriate adaptations and accommodations so that (individuals with FASD) can have success in their school years. That’s really important, to set up a child for success,” said Pickly Dear.
Additionally, they both wish people understood more about the damage that stigmatizing FASD does.
“The stigma associated with drinking during pregnancy is so terrible that it makes it difficult for individuals who are pregnant to talk about that, because of the backlash from family or community, right? And then, they don’t want to share that or disclose that information, and that makes it tricky to help support kids who might be struggling, right? So, we want to change the paradigm. We want to reframe how people are seen when they use substances. We want to make sure that they have support and non-judgmental and a trauma-informed approach, so that they’re able to share their story,” said Pickly Dear.
If you’re interested in becoming more informed about FASD or just want to stop by and check out a good hockey game, stop by the Selkirk Recreation Complex on Sept. 12 for the Steelers game.
“We have candy. We have swag. Come see us at the table and have some fun. You’re going to come to the game anyway,” said Pickly Dear.
The government of Manitoba has some additional resources on FASD on their website at https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/fasd/resources.html. The Interlake FASD Committee is part of the Manitoba FASD Committee, which, like our local committee, seeks to provide awareness and support for people with FASD throughout our province. The Manitoba FASD Coalition also has additional learning resources at https://www.fasdcoalition.ca/resources/resource-listing/.
Also, the Interlake FASD Committee welcomes anyone in the region, not just healthcare workers, who are interested in learning more about FASD to join their ranks. You can get in touch with Suski by emailing bsuski@ierha.ca.
