I Can See Clearly Now

A collegue came back to work after being with his family during an unexpected family crisis. During this difficult time, he began to look at his family with eyes experienced in identifying FASD behaviors and experienced in asking the question, in this case, asking himself if his sisters had drank any alcohol during their pregnanies. His revelation to me this morning was similar to mine when I reached a point of understanding. The process of understanding the impact of FASD is just that, a process. At first, there is disbelief. A non-believer says this is not something that impacts people like they are saying. No way.....this guy telling me this is off his rocker..... Or, as a counselor told me 5 months ago, "We got trained in that a couple of years ago, that is not a problem now". Then, you work with FASD victims for a while. For much of that time, you do not believe the kid is brain damaged. No, he is just defying me, or he is not paying attention, or he can control his behavior, he just does not want to. Then you see more and more kids with the same condition. Each time, that crazy superintendent asks if the child is FASD. Every time, you think he is crazy. Next, you find yourself asking the question on the first display of a behavior, then.......then....you start seeing with opened eyes. That kid in the newspaper who murdered that girl. Is he FASD? Yes, maybe that is what was wrong with those kids in that public school where I taught for years. Their parents were drinkers. Now you have moved through the disbelieving part of the process and are seeing through informed eyes. Then, you start looking at people who are near and dear to you. When you reach that point, you have a clear understanding of the true impact of FASD in our society. My collegue now can see clearly the impact in his family, just like I saw the impact in my family. Only when I can get people to see like I see, will we truly be able to change the disbelieving attitudes in our society.

Why do I say the attitudes need changing? Click on my youtube tirade against Coors Brewing and read the first comment. That type of attitude is more common than not and needs changing.