A new Canadian initiative, FASD Understanding, is using video and educational resources to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, reduce stigma, and strengthen support for individuals and families affected by FASD. Created by M.I.understanding together with puppeteers, researchers, community partners and families, the project aims to make information about FASD more accessible, compassionate and easier to understand for educators, caregivers, service providers and frontline professionals.

At the heart of the initiative is a clear message: FASD is a lifelong disability that affects the brain and body of individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. It can influence learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, social understanding, motor skills and sensory processing. At the same time, the project stresses that FASD looks different in every individual, and that with the right supports, children and adults with FASD can grow, learn and thrive.

The video series explains these realities in a way that is both informative and approachable. Some of the challenges linked to FASD are invisible and are too often misunderstood as laziness or misbehaviour, when they may in fact reflect differences in memory, time management, emotions or sensory processing. The project also highlights the link between FASD and mental health challenges, noting that while FASD is not a mental health disorder, many individuals with FASD experience mental health difficulties at some point in their lives. This makes understanding and appropriate support especially important.

FASD Understanding is also built on collaboration. My Potentia, formerly the Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network, has played a central role in bringing the project to life, building on years of work to provide practical, person-centred support for individuals and families. Together with a wider national network of partners and supporters, the initiative offers free resources for families, educators and organisations, helping communities better understand FASD and respond with empathy, accommodation and informed support.

Find more from M.I. understanding (Canada, April 2026)