A leading neuropsychologist to talk about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

A leading neuropsychologist, who has already helped to quash a murder conviction, is giving a lecture in South Taranaki.

Dr. Valerie McGinn, who has over twenty years of experience with children and adolescents with brain injuries and neurological disorders, will attend the workshop on FASD. on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) held November 16 at TSB Hub.

Claire Gyde, president of FAS-Can (Action Network for Managing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders), said she hoped the workshop would give people a basic understanding of the challenges faced by people with the disorder, caused by their mother who drinks alcohol. during pregnancy.

Teina Pora has been one of the most publicized cases. She was convicted of the rape and murder of Susan Burdett in 1994 and incarcerated for 20 years before her conviction was overturned in 2015, based on evidence provided by McGinn.

READ MORE:
* Doctor: the alcoholic beverage industry needs mandatory warnings for pregnant women
* Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder – "It can only take one drink"
* The Commissioner for Children calls for universal testing for disability in five-year-olds.

"We want people to know that it's a brain injury that can not be repaired, it can only be managed," Gyde said.

"But if we are able to provide the right environment, it can make such a difference."

The behaviors associated with the disorder include a lack of impulse control, problems understanding the consequences of actions, distractibility, and hyperactivity.

Although no statistics on the number of people directly affected by the disease are available in New Zealand, Gyde estimates that between 1,000 and 3,000 babies are born each year in New Zealand.

"A whole range of people do not understand FASD well, so we hope to update service providers and the people they work with to help them," she said.

Mr Gyde said a wide range of people, including police, humanitarian workers, people from the education sector, including early childhood centers, have expressed interest in attending at the workshop free of charge and that the number of participants was fast.

"We hope to form a network of professionals who can all help," she said.

Sam Galloway, head of practice at START, Taranaki, one of the co-organizers of the event, said that he had noticed that many young men were going through programs with the problem and that it was gradually becoming a major problem.

"Working with someone with FASD is a challenge, but it's not as difficult as not understanding it," he said.

The event will take place from 9:30 to 16:00. Lunch and morning tea are also provided. To reserve your place at the workshop, send an email to: [email protected]