EPISODE · May 25, 2026 · 41 MIN
FASD & Masking with Alice Foote
from Living with FASD · host Patricia Kasper
In this episode, Patti Kasper sits down with Alice Foote, an FASD advocate from the UK who is currently vacationing in the United States. Alice shares her unique journey of being diagnosed at birth but not learning of her condition until age 16. They discuss the challenges of "masking," the necessity of rigid routines, and the physical symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders that often go overlooked by medical professionals.Key Discussion PointsThe "Late" Realization: Although diagnosed at birth, Alice was raised as a neurotypical person until her grandmother explained her struggles with concentration at age 16.The Power of Routine: Alice describes how structure is vital to her daily life, from her specific morning coffee ritual and airplane-mode work habits to maintaining the same breakfast table and time even while on vacation.Masking and Authenticity: Alice talks about the exhausting nature of "masking" to appear normal and her recent decision to let her true personality show more, including her impulsive excitement for things like meeting a Minion at Universal Studios.Workplace Advocacy: In the UK, while FASD itself isn't under the Equality Act, its symptoms are. Alice shares how she worked with HR to implement infographics and clear communication strategies to help her succeed in a call center environment.Physical Symptoms & Medical Ignorance: Alice and Patti discuss how FASD is a "whole-body diagnosis". Alice shares her experiences with physical issues, such as losing feeling in her legs, and the frustration of having to educate her own doctors about her condition.The "Invisible" Disability: Alice emphasizes that just because someone "looks normal" or can drive a car doesn't mean they aren't fighting a "whole different continent" internally.If you would like to reach Patti, you can email her at [email protected]. Visit her website at www.patriciakasper.com to learn more about her coaching and professional development training services, or visit https://calendly.com/kaspertrainingandcoaching/consultation to schedule a complimentary call.If you would like to pick up a copy of Patti’s book, Sip by Sip: Candid Conversations with Adults Living with FASD, visit www.books.by/yourfasdcoach or Amazon. (Both print on demand, but due to lower overhead costs, books.by is able to pay its authors a few more dollars in royalties.)Please remember to like, subscribe & share, so that even more people can learn about FASD.
What this episode covers
In this episode, Patti Kasper sits down with Alice Foote, an FASD advocate from the UK who is currently vacationing in the United States. Alice shares her unique journey of being diagnosed at birth but not learning of her condition until age 16. They discuss the challenges of "masking," the necessity of rigid routines, and the physical symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders that often go overlooked by medical professionals.Key Discussion PointsThe "Late" Realization: Although diagnosed at birth, Alice was raised as a neurotypical person until her grandmother explained her struggles with concentration at age 16.The Power of Routine: Alice describes how structure is vital to her daily life, from her specific morning coffee ritual and airplane-mode work habits to maintaining the same breakfast table and time even while on vacation.Masking and Authenticity: Alice talks about the exhausting nature of "masking" to appear normal and her recent decision to let her true personality show more, including her impulsive excitement for things like meeting a Minion at Universal Studios.Workplace Advocacy: In the UK, while FASD itself isn't under the Equality Act, its symptoms are. Alice shares how she worked with HR to implement infographics and clear communication strategies to help her succeed in a call center environment.Physical Symptoms & Medical Ignorance: Alice and Patti discuss how FASD is a "whole-body diagnosis". Alice shares her experiences with physical issues, such as losing feeling in her legs, and the frustration of having to educate her own doctors about her condition.The "Invisible" Disability: Alice emphasizes that just because someone "looks normal" or can drive a car doesn't mean they aren't fighting a "whole different continent" internally.If you would like to reach Patti, you can email her at [email protected]. Visit her website at www.patriciakasper.com to learn more about her coaching and professional development training services, or visit https://calendly.com/kaspertrainingandcoaching/consultation to schedule a complimentary call.If you would like to pick up a copy of Patti’s book, Sip by Sip: Candid Conversations with Adults Living with FASD, visit www.books.by/yourfasdcoach or Amazon. (Both print on demand, but due to lower overhead costs, books.by is able to pay its authors a few more dollars in royalties.)Please remember to like, subscribe & share, so that even more people can learn about FASD.
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FASD & Masking with Alice Foote
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