As we finished sharing successful interventions for toddlers and moved into the discussion of children, ages 6 through 11, we facilitators were overwhelmed at the dramatic depth of love, patience and nurture that these parents had given to the children in their care. Everyone understands the general concept of FAE but it is not a medical diagnosis and consequently does not open the door to any treatment or services. The current work of several researchers could have the potential for developing new diagnostic protocols or tests. We believe their findings are indicative of the type of current front line research that has the potential to develop the necessary diagnostic tests to validate the existence of organic brain damage in all affected individuals. This information is essential to policy makers, who need hard data to authenticate a medical condition and estimate the incidence and costs, in order to make informed decisions about appropriations for services.
Diagnosis is also vital to the children and their families.
The developmental delays of the toddler years must be understood and diagnosable as the children get older in order to provide them with appropriate care for a developmental disability instead of criticizing and shunning them as persons who have no conscience and are without remorse. E. This issue of FAS Times presents the collective family experience from the FAS Intervention Retreat for the childhood years. So the interventions for children will be continued in the winter issue. We have had great feedback on the Summer issue which focused on interventions for toddlers. We understand her feelings of urgency.