September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder month across Canada, and the Niagara region is trying to raise awareness.
Katey McKay is with Contact Niagara, and says this impacts about 4% of the population, more than down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy combined. "FASD is a life long disability, that impacts the brain and body of someone that was exposed to alcohol in the womb. So, their brain is different, and their body is too, so how do we change and do things differently."
She says any society that has alcohol can expect to have people impacted. "We don't know when there is a safe amount of alcohol to consume, or how much, or when, so those are the conversations I have in trying to take away that shame or blame from families."
She adds some women are pregnant, don't know it, and drink, potentially leading to FASD.
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