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Sep 9 '16
Every year on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day is observed, in order to focus on bringing attention to the harm caused to the developing baby from alcohol exposure during pregnancy.
Raising awareness, providing advice and ensuring that pathways to treatment are available are important aspects of preventing FASD through health services.
Proclamations are issued in countries, states, provinces, and towns all around the world.
Bells are rung at 9:09 a.m. in every time zone from New Zealand to Alaska. People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol use during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
The first FASDay was celebrated on September 09, 1999. This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should abstain from alcohol use.
What is FASD
FASD is an umbrella term for a range of disabilities resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD is the most common preventable cause of non-genetic, developmental disability in Australia. Children born with FASD have a range of learning, behavioural and developmental disabilities that can affect them for the rest of their lives
International FAS Awareness Day was founded by Bonnie Buxton and Brian Philcox of FASworld and Teresa Kellerman of Fasstar.