When you are born with a brain that works different from the rest of the world, it doesn’t take long before you start noticing – even when you are little that something is wrong – and maybe that wrong is with you… and you think… I try really really really hard to be good and do things like everyone else… but even when I try my best people think I am being rude, behaving badly, not measuring up… What if we could change the thinking of the neurotypicals – that means people who have brains like most of the world to see and understand us as we are. To love us for what we are able. To enhance our “Live Abilities” instead of talk about our disabilities… Together we can do it and what will happen? Well,  we hope what will happen is that we, who live with FASd will carry less burden of fear, less burden of anxiety and less burden of sadness. And with hope, happiness and joy – you will see who we truly can be and become.

Sometimes we just need some Spiderman Red Slippers!

Who is Spiderman?

He is an ordinary person that somehow becomes extraordinary named Peter Parker. Peters is socially awkward, shy high schooler who gets bitten by a radioactive spider. Parker’s blood is affected by this bite, and he is suddenly stronger, very fast, and is able to shoot webs, climb buildings, and leap long distances.  Peter is not always successful in resisting abuse of power, but part of his appeal is his constant struggle to be a better person, not just a more powerful superhero. And really for each of us, isn’t that important…. Here’s to each of us becoming the “Best We Can Be Living with FASD”

 There is still time to get a plan together for 9.9 at 9:09 or simply step with us up to International FASDay. 

Bells Ring at 9:00 – and then a Minute of Reflection at 9:09 am

Everyone participating in FAS Day is invited to share in the “Minute of Reflection” 9:09 a.m. on September 9, as it goes around the world.

In this magical moment the ninth minute of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month we want to get out the message that in the nine months of pregnancy, while breastfeeding or planning to conceive, women should not drink alcohol.
In this minute, we also want the world to remember those millions of people around the world who are living with fetal alcohol disorders. If a large bell or carillon is not accessible or appropriate, participants can do many things to observe that special minute in accordance with their own cultural background or religious beliefs.

The Minute of Reflection symbolizes the worldwide circle of community which links all of us who care about FASD, all of us who are working towards prevention, all of us who are trying to help children and adults with fetal alcohol disorders reach their full potential. Here are nine more suggestions for observing the Minute of Reflection. If you have other ideas, please share them with us.

• Alone or with others, sit outside quietly and listen to the birds, or the wind blowing through the trees, or water lapping against the shore of a river or lake. You may want to focus on the wonderful gifts and strengths of the person(s) with FASD in your life.
• Say a prayer or recite a poem appropriate to your beliefs or culture.
• Sing a song or hymn.
• Listen to an excerpt of your favorite music. (Any suggestions?)
• Play a musical instrument, alone, or with fellow musicians, or ring tiny bells and “triangles” as the children of Queen of Apostles School, Toledo, OH did at 9:09 a.m. on September 9, 1999.
• Sit in a circle and share some pure spring water with people you care about.
• Place a long-distance phone call to a special friend who is equally committed to the FASD issue: you could even make it a three-way or teleconference call.

You may find 9:09 a.m. inconvenient and may prefer to mark the Minute of Reflection at 9:09 p.m., and light a candle to symbolize both the flame of your love for individuals living with FASD, and your burning desire to eradicate this preventable birth defect. 

Simple silence. The kind of silence that has existed for centuries.
Each person with FASD is different, and those of us who love them respect their differences. Respecting each other while working together is what FASDay is about.

THEN STEP OUT AND MAKE SOME NOISE! RED SHOES ROCK!