Ōtautahi / Christchurch is lighting up for FASD Awareness Day, Saturday 09/09!
Every year it’s predicted that between 1,698 (3%) and 2,830 (5%) of Kiwi babies are born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). It’s permanent brain damage caused by alcohol exposure in the womb. Ōtautahi will be the first city in Aotearoa to light up to raise awareness.
This is particularly relevant to Kingslea School. It’s predicted that up to 50% of Kingslea students will have FASD, mostly undiagnosed. These students, many in youth justice residences, attend our multi-campus school every day, and have a number of complexities that our specialist teachers and staff are equipped and supported to deal with.
Greater awareness of FASD, its prevalence, and how New Zealand society can achieve better outcomes for students like ours, is an issue very close to our hearts. Often where people see badly-behaved, inattentive, unengaged, or criminal young people, we see young people with a need for better support and our empathy as they deal with the complexities of having FASD.
Our thanks to Christchurch City Council and FASD-CAN Aotearoa for all your hard work. We look forward to seeing the lights tonight and tomorrow!
*Banksia Hill Detention Centre Project, 2018: https://alcoholpregnancy.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/research-projects/Banksia-hill-detention-centre-project/