It's widely accepted that that keeping those with FASD in school for as long as possible can avoid many problems later in life, and that with exclusion from school comes exclusion from society, which can set in motion an all-too-common trajectory towards the justice system.

School exclusion can often be avoided, however, if the FASD-informed interventions are begun early enough.

• FASD-CAN Webinar: Overcoming School Exclusion in Rangatahi

In September 2022, FASD-CAN ran a webinar presented by Cherryl Waerea-i-te-rangi Smith (Nga Wairiki/Ngati Apa), a grandmother raising a 16 year-old mokopuna who has a diagnosis of FASD. Cherryl has a PhD in Education from the University of Auckland and works as a researcher. In the webinar she shares her personal story about reinstating a mokopuna after being excluded from school. Click here to watch. 

• Exclusion to Inclusion Aotearoa

There is an Aotearoa-based website which has a number of resources for those experiencing, or trying to avoid exclusion, called Exclusion to Inclusion Aotearoa NZ. It includes digital presentations which discuss behaviour using a brain-based approach and identifies trauma-informed strategies which educators can use to support inclusion.

The above site also includes some also short films of rangatahi talking about what the impact of being excluded has been on their wellbeing. This video will be helpful to individuals, whānau, schools, Boards of Trustees, and people who work with tamariki and rangatahi.