Lee Harvey-Heath, an adult with FASD blogs about his experience living on the spectrum. One advice he has for parents/caregivers of persons living with FASD is “If you are having a hard time seeing anything positive, don’t give up, don’t give in. Because if you just look at all the negatives, how do you expect to see any positives. Just stop and take a look at your FASD superhero, think about what they are battling, and how hard it is just to get through the day, they know, feel, and see all your anger and frustration they get frustrated with themselves too.”
Retrieved from: https://fasdthroughmyeyes.wordpress.com
One thing I see a lot of is parents ranting, now I fully understand that parents need to vent its so hard raising a child with fetal alcohol, but when I see parents or possible parents only seeing the negative in FASD and think there is nothing good about a child with FASD I find it quite upsetting. It really bothers me that some for whatever reason can’t see the light in the dark and there is ALWAYS a light, sometimes you just have to shine your own torch to find it.
I’m almost 31, I have FASD, and as you can see from the photo which was just taken yesterday, 1- I love superheroes, and 2- more importantly I can be really fun and I like anyone enjoy a good laugh BUT I have to feel comfortable with who I am with, I have just a handful of friends, but I’m comfortable with them, I can be myself, and yesterday we were in a big toy store and I was playing with this avengers mask, as well as trying on kids superman sunglasses. There are things I’m not good at and not everyday is a good day, but in the right situation, you can be sure that I will shine. I’m a great writer, I can write a poem or a quote in minutes, I’m not too bad in a garden either, and I’m creative, polite, funny, friendly. There are many things I’m good at all mixed in with the things that I can’t do, but that’s just FASD I’m afraid.
So if you are having a hard time seeing anything positive, don’t give up, don’t give in. Because if you just looking at all the negatives, how do you expect to see any positives. Just stop and take a look at your FASD superhero, think about what they are battling, and how hard it is just to get through the day, they know, feel, and see all your anger and frustration they get frustrated with themselves too.
There are many positives to someone with FASD, sometimes they need a little light from someone else to find their own bright spark.
Lee Harvey-Heath
Look for me on Facebook at FASD Through my eyes
Disclaimer: The views and opinions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Edmonton and Area Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Network.