fetal alcohol syndrome adolescents external brain

FANTASTIC ANTON growing: young people and adults with fetal alcohol syndrome. Edited by Judith Kleinfeld with Barbara Morse and Siobhan Wescott. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Press, 2000. XVIII + 424 pp, bib. Installations index. Softbound. U.S. $ 20.00.
Alcohol was considered
teratologic agent in pregnancy since biblical times. The identification of a particular constellation of features in the child is still relatively young. Some have the first description of the relationship between alcohol consumption and the subsequent birth defects to Dr. Paul Lemoine and his colleagues in Nantes, France. In 1968, they described a group of 127 children born to alcoholic mothers with what is now a familiar constellation of features: unusual facies, increased frequency of malformations, psychomotor disturbances, and growth retardation. In 1973, Jones and Smith, in the Lancet, comments about the "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome." In the last 30 years, a plethora of studies and observations in the scientific literature, the toxic relationship between alcohol and pregnancy.
Prevalence studies have focused more and more daunting, despite the public health and policy efforts. While the initial occurrence of FAS / E (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome / effects) is generally considered to be 1-3 per 1000 births in North America, it is increasingly clear that in some communities, the figures are often higher, even up to 9-10 per 1000 live births, or a child, which in 100 pregnancies.
What is also clear is the social reality for many of these children, whose houses are characterized by poverty, drug abuse and social chaos. Many children, and in some areas, most of these children enter the care system. The challenges of their behavior and social skills, needs, and mean that many of them also experience recurrent loss of placement in a treatment agency to another.
Almost a decade, Anthony has been through the promotion of his mother Sally Caldwell in Anton follows Fantastic! (1993), an anthology with chapters by psychologists, teachers, researchers, and parents of affected children alcohol. This book arose from his mother's need to meet the challenges of the base, a child, the spirit, and to react positively and with a commitment to these challenges. The book was written for the laity, parents of children affected by the prenatal exposure to alcohol, and professionals. Above all, it was to support a loving and informed community in responding to the many children who like Anton experience a range of sensory and behavioral vulnerabilities that present unique challenges to their carers. At that time there were some parents or networks, and even less advocacy bodies ready to face these challenges for physicians, educators, and legislators.
In 2000, Anton has become. He is weathering youth, but, as stated in the Preface (p. xiv), his mother worries: "So far, one foot rests securely in the value-world directed by his family, his school and religious community, but also the other fittings for the rhythm of the lures of corruption that are within his reach. "This book seeks to join the community of people who remain from the alcohol by their stories and experiences. These were by the children themselves and grow, and by the supervisors, parents and professionals who help them negotiate the world of adults who never routine, often insecure, and always changing. The book is divided into three parts. The first part chronicles successful independent living for young adults with FAS / E, from their own perspective and that of their families. We have heard how the family create for them the "external brain." The second part describes the strategies of the community to support these young adults negotiate their way through the education-al, legal and social systems. Finally, the third part examines the grass-roots movements that focus on all people who care and support for their families, which bind us together for what is learned through the "wisdom of practice" approach, which throughout the book.
This approach is not purely descriptive. It has developed from a theoretical construct by Judith Kleinfeld, a professor of psychology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, the pioneer of the idea of "wisdom of practice" studies.
The construct has to recognize and the "wisdom of the experience of parents and other persons with FAS / E" (p. 1) and there is a qualitative basis for the formation of the basis of theories of practice.
Most importantly, this book recognizes, like all parents that children learn to negotiate their own relationship, ultimately to the world. Each account describes the experience of negotiating at home, work and interpersonal relationships. These descriptions for the development of stable communities and support for children who are now in an age to venture outside the relative protection of their own families and the negotiations on the unpredictabilities of the outside world. In addition, the book every single experience with respect for the wisdom it provides. As Caldwell writes, "Anton struggle with FAS differs from me, and I've learned, it is best not to confuse the two" (p. xv).
The ongoing challenge for many people with a disability to convince their community their real abilities. The editors write: "Our aim in this book is to undermine, but rather a recognized destructive myth - that people with FAS / E is not a chance for a good job or live in their own or to go to school" (p. 4) . This second volume challenges us as individuals, communities and society: Can we recognize and support the capabilities of people who are affected by alcohol? Can we see the world through their eyes, and in support of family and community, support and celebrate their place among us? Can we recognize the shortcomings in their own communities to ensure that continued high levels of poverty and despair, so that people in decisions that promote individual and community alcoholism? Can we stop the cycle of separation of children from their birth parents, bouncing them up to the mediation, and then punish the children for their "behavior"?
This book was written for parents and children with FAS / E, to acknowledge their struggles, to support their decisions and to celebrate their victories. All proceeds from this book go to groups that support children with FAS / E and their families. The book is also for professionals in health care, social services and education, counseling and support for those affected and their families, and who can use them to develop policy initiatives to support healthy communities. Finally, this book is a reminder that for all of us. One in 100 children is affected, and each of those 100 adults will be shaping our future. This book is for each and every one of us.
REFERENCES
Caldwell, P. 1993rd Maintenance of the delicate rose. In: Kleinfeld, J., and Wescott, S., eds. Fantastic Anton succeeds! Experience in the education of children with fetal alcohol syndrome. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Press. 381 p.
JONES, K.L., and Smith, D.W. 1973. Recognition of fetal alcohol syndrome in early childhood. Lancet 2 (7836) :999-1001.