FAS and Growing Success

One of the most unique challenges for Special Education teacher is dealing with the diverse and often difficult behavioural and academic learning needs of an exceptional student who suffers from the affects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

One of the desired outcomes for this assignment was to look into the special needs for the variety of students in the alternative education class presented in the case study - and one of those special needs was of students living with the affects of FASD.

The following link is provided to a wonderful resource from the government of Alberta in regards to teaching students with FASD.

Not only does this resource offer definitions of FASD, but also practical activities that are congruent with the learning styles of students who are effected by the disorder.

Chapter One: Definitions

Chapter Two offers context to the disorder, exposure, and the development of the exceptional student who suffers from this disorder.

Chapter Three includes useful classroom strategies and necessary social skills for the students in this type of environment in order to make the Growing Success type assessments mean something to the individual student. 

Chapter Four focussed on building a positive classroom environment for the student with FASD, which is crucial for the case study, as the success of peer and self assessment strategies outlined in the Growing Success document hinge on the welcoming and positive environment.

Finally, Chapter five focussed on the individual developmental needs of the individual with FASD and this can be linked to the types of as learning activities that would be most beneficial for a student with the FASD exceptionality.

Programming for Student's with Special Need's Series, http://education.alberta.ca/media/377037/fasd.pdf Teaching Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Building Strengths, Creating Hope, Alberta Learning.