Every year on September 9, communities around the world recognize Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Day.
For the Edmonton and area FASD community, the day is an opportunity to talk about FASD, challenge some of the misconceptions that continue to surround it, and, most importantly, listen to and recognize people with FASD, their families, caregivers and the people who support them.
This year, we are pleased to share that the City of Edmonton has officially proclaimed September 9, 2026, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Day in Edmonton.
The City’s proclamation recognizes that approximately 4% of Canadians live with FASD and acknowledges something we see regularly in our work: stigma still affects how FASD is understood, how openly it is discussed and whether individuals and families feel safe asking for help.
Awareness is only the beginning
FASD is a lifelong disability resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. But knowing the definition of FASD is only one small part of understanding it.
People with FASD have individual strengths, abilities, challenges and support needs. No two people experience FASD in exactly the same way.
When we better understand how FASD can affect areas such as memory, executive functioning, communication, emotional regulation, sensory processing and adaptive functioning, we can begin to change our expectations and our approaches.
Instead of asking, “Why won’t this person do this?” we can begin asking, “What might be getting in the way, and what support could make this work?”
That shift matters.
Moving away from stigma
FASD has historically been surrounded by significant stigma, particularly toward birth mothers and people living with the disability. Stigma does not increase understanding or prevent FASD. It can instead make it harder for people to talk openly about alcohol and pregnancy, seek an assessment, access support or identify themselves as someone living with FASD.
FASD Day gives us an opportunity to do something different.
We can have conversations that are informed, respectful and compassionate. We can recognize that alcohol use and pregnancy exist within much larger social, health and community contexts. And we can ensure that people with FASD are talked with, rather than simply talked about.
Creating communities where people can succeed
At EFAN, we believe that understanding FASD should lead to action.
That can mean adjusting an environment, communicating differently, providing more time, creating predictable routines, recognizing strengths or reconsidering expectations that simply aren’t working.
Sometimes relatively small changes in the way support is provided can make a significant difference.
FASD-informed communities recognize that success does not always come from expecting a person to adapt to the environment. Sometimes the environment needs to adapt to the person.
September 9 and every day after
We are grateful to the City of Edmonton and Mayor Andrew Knack for recognizing September 9, 2026, as FASD Day and helping bring greater visibility to FASD in our community.
A proclamation is an important acknowledgement, but our work cannot end on September 9.
We hope FASD Day encourages people across Edmonton and surrounding communities to learn something new, question an old assumption, have a conversation, share a resource and listen to the voices and experiences of people with FASD.
Because the goal isn’t simply greater awareness of FASD.
It’s greater understanding, and communities where people with FASD are supported, included and able to thrive.
