In Aotearoa New Zealand the impact of alcohol harms and high prevalence rates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) have far reaching consequences, especially for those living with the lifelong disability, their whānau or families, and for those offering care, support and FASD-informed services. Families living with FASD can face a range of complex challenges and require ongoing assistance from services in health, education, welfare, disability and justice systems. There have been few studies examining professionals’ perspectives on what enables people with FASD to live well, and what systemic and practice-level changes are needed to promote wellbeing for this group of people. This study set out to examine, through semi-structured interviews the viewpoints of 43 stakeholders, all of whom had significant experience of working in the FASD-field. A third of the stakeholders were also caregivers for those living with FASD. Their professional backgrounds were varied, from health and disability to justice and legal, education, social work, community and NGO backgrounds.
This presentation will report on how professionals play a crucial role in delivering training and interventions to build capacity, alongside offering strengths-based practices that sought to enhance belonging, stability and positive relationships; and how professionals view wellbeing and success for those living with FASD.
Takeaways:1] Attendees will be introduced to FASD as a neurodivergent identity in Aotearoa / New Zealand.
2] Attendees will gain insights into the perspectives of professionals, caregivers, and people with lived experience on living well when FASD is the primary disability within an individual or family.
3] Attendees will gain information about systemic and practice-levels changes that might help people living with FASD live good lives in Aotearoa / New Zealand.