#94 - Dr. Douglas Waite, Diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Scarlett Lewis’ guests for this podcast are Dr. Douglas Waite, developmental pediatrician, Melissa Jacobus, mother of 2 children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and Jenn Wisdahl, Chief Operating Officer of FASD United and mom to 3 with FASD. FASD is an umbrella term that encompasses a number of lifelong medical diagnoses that can occur with prenatal exposure to alcohol, even prior to recognition of pregnancy. Highly prevalent, occurring in up to 1 in 20 school aged children, but often unseen or unrecognized, Dr. Waite describes what fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are and how they can be diagnosed. Scarlett and her guests discuss the need for more awareness of FASD as well as the funding to provide training for the medical community. That training is the starting point for getting recognition of this disability. The FASD community and The Choose Love Movement can work together to offer kids the coping and social skills over and above what is taught in the homes and schools.  The FASD community and FASD United need your help! Send a note to your senator/house rep and let them know that we need change now with the FASD Respect Act. The FASD community needs ‘nurturing, healing, love’ now more than ever’. Help us be part of the solution! https://fasdunited.org/ Senate bill 3946 House bill 1800 Check out Melissa Jacobus’ book, The Accomplice, The Invisible Disability of FASD. Her book mirrors the story of many families and the outcomes when our systems of care don’t recognize or support people with this highly prevalent disability. . https://www.amazon.com/Accomplice-Melissa-Jacobus/dp/1665300035