Every year up to 3,000 babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Aotearoa, New Zealand — a preventable but incurable brain-based disorder that impacts the lives of families for a lifetime. There is a chronic lack of awareness of FASD as a neurodiversity in our education system, and this can eventually lead young people with FASD to school exclusion, substance use and ultimately, the justice system.
However, those with FASD have strengths as well as challenges, and Northland psychologist Veronica George wants to draw attention to what tamariki and rangatahi with FASD can achieve when given appropriate early interventions.
Ms George works as a psychologist supporting schools and whānau in Northland to understand the impact of trauma on brain development. She helps educators to see the behaviours that can be caused by prenatal alcohol exposure through a brain-based lens, and helps implement supporting strategies that are mana-enhancing.
"I work with many students in schools who are often misunderstood and therefore end up experiencing even more adversity in life, when what they need is compassionate support and accommodations made to enable them to achieve their full potential and experience positive life outcomes," said Ms George. "There are many great teachers out there supporting these students, but with increased awareness and understanding across communities, a real difference can be made in their lives, positively impacting society as well."
Ms George is having her dreadlocks cut on Saturday April 26 at Envy Hair & Beauty in Whangārei.
She has set up a Givealittle page for donations to FASD-CAN, the national hub for FASD information, training and support for both caregivers and professionals. The donation will help extend their FASD educational programmes to enable more kaiako, specialist support staff and schools to become more FASD-informed.
