We provide downloadable, printer-friendly information sheets on a wide range of topics that we know — from lived experience — are especially important to parents, caregivers, grandparents and whānau, as well as professionals supporting individuals with FASD.
For most subjects, you’ll find both a concise two-page pānui and a more detailed resource for those wanting to explore the topic in greater depth. We’ll continue to expand this collection over time with new sheets added regularly.
Our information sheets below are listed in alphabetical order.
Choline is a vital nutrient for all pregnancies and supports the rapid development of the baby's brain and spinal cord. Alcohol exposure creates a 'functional choline insufficiency', but recent research involving both prenatal and early childhood supplementation for alcohol-exposed pregnancies is indicating that high-dosage choline may provide a robust layer of protective support – noting that it is just one part of a much larger journey of care and wellbeing.
There is no single reason why some pregnancies are exposed to alcohol – but we know at FASD-CAN that no parent intentionally harms their baby. These fact sheets debunk some myths and discuss how to have the best possible outcomes for your pēpi / baby.
People with FASD have brain differences as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure which lead to predictable cognitive challenges that we call common thinking traps – these include catastrophising, perseveration or emotional reasoning. This resource has tips on how to spot them alongside practical strategies to work through them.
The cognitive challenges of those with FASD make punishment pointless – it simply adds trauma. Instead of focusing on stopping challenging behaviour through consequences, CP encourages caregivers to understand the underlying brain needs and feelings of the child – think 'brain not blame' and 'connection before correction'.
People with FASD often experience a range of eating difficulties. It's common for impaired executive function to cause a loss of ability to interpret hunger or satiety signals which can lead to either undereating or overeating. Other symptoms of FASD such as challenges with sensory processing and oral motor skills are also typical issues.
Traditional health advice has focused almost exclusively on trying to ensure that pregnant person must avoid alcohol – but there is a definite case for pāpā / fathers and partners avoiding it too, in the months leading up to conception. We used to think that sperm only carried a basic 'blueprint' of DNA, but recent research now shows that it is a much more active messenger. It carries 'starting instructions' that tell a baby’s genes how to function and grow.
The unique and intense form of fatigue commonly experienced by those with FASD stems from a combination of neurological, physical and environmental factors. It's not laziness – it's a pervasive exhaustion that goes far beyond typical tiredness. Understanding this can help you provide accommodations and support that may improve your relationship.
According to a recent global survey, people with FASD are up to 19 times more likely to be incarcerated than the general population. Challenges with executive and adaptive function, impulsivity, eagerness to please, lack of social judgement and multiple system failures all contribute to this very worrying statistic.
'Behaviourism' is somewhat outdated belief that improving the behaviour of all tamariki / children comes about through simple training using rewards and punishments. This may work for neurotypical children, but not for those with FASD – punishing behavioural symptoms of brain differences will simply compound trauma for those with FASD, so it's essential to 'look 'beyond behaviourism'. When we do, we can stop punishing their disability and instead build supportive, successful environments that work for everyone.
The significant challenges that people with FASD face make them very vulnerable to poor mental health, which can lead to self-medication with alcohol or substances and suicidal ideation. This is a look at the facts and figures of the increased mental health issues associated with FASD.
* Please note: these info sheets contain statistics which may be upsetting.
* Our tips for boosting mental health in rangatahi / young people can be read here.
* A list of free crisis support phone numbers for all ages can be found here.
Multiple brain-based factors combine to produce enormous challenges for motivation for people with FASD. Understanding this allows for effective strategies that help them engage, learn, and thrive.
Procrastination can be a problem for anyone, but neurodivergent people struggle with it more than most. It can happen for complex emotional reasons which can include anxiety, low self-confidence, fear of failure and overwhelm.
Although FASD is not 'curable, a person's life outcomes can be powerfully shaped by 'protective factors' such as a supportive home, early diagnosis, and FASD-informed caregivers. Advocacy, compassion, and consistent support can help people with FASD not just survive, but thrive.
Have you ever wondered why your tamariki or rangatahi with FASD might wear a heavy hoodie in mid-summer, or a light t-shirt on a frosty midwinter day? The FASD brain often does feel temperature differently and there are other reasons too why clothing feels right for them when it may be wrong for us. This info will help you to help them realise when they may need more or fewer clothes.
* download and print this handy graphic your child can use to help decide what to wear for the weather!
Sleep can be a major issue for people with FASD. Although it has not been formally, scientifically investigated, it is widely accepted that neurodiversity brings challenges that routinely include sleep problems and these can significantly impact day to day life for the individual, caregivers and whānau alike. This information sheet lists some of the problems and a list of suggestions for changing sleep routines for the better.
Our window of tolerance is the space where we feel calm, present, and able to cope – imagine it as paddling peacefully down a river. It's easier for a person with FASD (and their parents or caregivers) to be find themselves suddenly outside this calm zone – either into rapids or being becalmed, which manifests as fight or flight, or shutdown / freeze.
