Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month......

Hey everyone, Micheal here.  Mr. Rob told me I should make a blog post about March being Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.  Thanks to President Ronald Reagan, in 1987 he issued a Presidential Proclamation making it so. 

Mr. Rob said this would be a good picture to post letting everyone know about this.  He said you could find out lots more about this special month by looking at The Arc's website.

In honor of this month, and a special movement called "Spread the Word to End the Word," I am introducing my twin brother Mark.  I will be making a post in a couple of days telling all about Mark.  He is very special to me, and I am proud he is my twin brother.  Check back soon to hear all about him.  -Michael

I went to Knox Middle School......

Hi everyone, it's Michael here.  Welcome back to my blog.  On Friday I got to go with Mrs. Jane to Knox Middle School.  She was going to give presentations on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to some of the students there.

I want to thank everyone at Knox Middle School for inviting Mrs. Jane, and thanks to Mrs. Jane for taking me.  I learned a lot about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS for short).

Here's Coach Pauley holding me and one of the demonstration babies Mrs. Jane used for her presentation.  Coach is a great guy, and fun to hang out with, but I know he understands the importance in learning about things like FAS.

Here I am sitting in class watching Mrs. Jane.  She did three different classes today.
  

Here I am sitting with a bottle of Vodka.  Mrs. Jane uses this in the FAS presentation, not to drink!!  


Mrs. Jane told us all about FAS and it's effects on unborn children.  It is sad, because this is something that can be completely prevented.  Mr. Rob said if you wanted to know lots more about FAS or FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) to check out the downloads page on the Arc of Rowan's website.  


Thanks for checking in today, and I'll be posting more later.  
--Michael

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(Note:  FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical, behavioral, mental and/ or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. It is identified by abnormal facial features, central nervous system problems and slowness of growth, and occurs when pregnant women drink alcohol and pass the alcohol along to their unborn babies through the blood stream. FASD can cause physical and mental disabilities of varying levels of severity (including intellectual disability). It is often a hidden disability that is not easily recognizable, making it difficult to provide affected individuals and their families the supports they desperately need.

FASD covers other terms such as: FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), ARND (Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder), ARBD (Alcohol-Related Birth Defects) and FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effects). FAS is the most identifiable and serious disability under the FASD umbrella, although it only accounts for approximately 25% of all alcohol-related effects. FAE is a term often used to describe someone whose condition does not meet the full criteria for an FAS diagnosis.

The prevalence of FASD is not known. CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) studies have documented FASD prevalence rates ranging from 2 to 15 cases per 10,000 live births. Other prenatal alcohol-related conditions are believed to occur approximately 3 times as often as FASD.)

Children with FASD can have serious lifelong disabilities other than intellectual disabilities, such as learning disabilities and serious behavioral problems. The good news is FASD is not hereditary and only occurs if a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy. In other words, FASD is 100% preventable.

For more information or to schedule a presentation for your class, group, or organization.  Contact The Arc of Rowan's offices @ 704 637-1521 or find us on the web at www.thearcofrowan.org  


Thanks -- Mr. Rob.