Classroom Strategies

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and complex trauma: A resource for educators

This resource is designed to support schools, educators, and community members to recognise, understand, and work effectively with students with FASD and complex trauma. While this resource has been written for Western Australia, the materials are relevant for all school communities. See the following sections for information on:

Classroom strategies: Section 3 (Pg. 32 to 47)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (WA Dept. of Ed PD presentation)

A four-part module developed by the WA Department of Education that examines the impact on FASD on learning and provides strategies to support all students with diverse learning needs. The module is designed for school leadership teams to present to their staff. While the resource has been written for Western Australia, it contains useful and relevant information for all school communities.

Eight Magic Keys

A short series of videos created by WRAP Schools based on 8 Magic Keys: Developing Successful Interventions for student with FASD by Deb Evenson and Jan Lutke. Each video covers one strategy or technique for working with students with FASD.

Guide to FASD and Learning

An online guide created by the New Zealand Ministry of Education designed to support school staff to provide an inclusive classroom and meet the learning needs of students with FASD. The guide contains information on:

• Strategies to support self-regulation and positive behaviour
• Classroom strategies to support learning
• Strategies to assist educators to identify the needs of their students (including working with families).

FASD in the Classroom

A brief Australian factsheet that contains information on common behaviours, misinterpretations, and support strategies for young people with FASD.

Classroom adjustments: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

A podcast episode from a series developed by the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability. The episode highlights adjustments that can be made in the classroom to enable students with FASD to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers.

What Educators Need to Know about FASD: Working together to educate children in Manitoba with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

A guide for school staff designed to provide a clear understanding of the needs of students with FASD, and strategies for supporting student learning and working with parents and caregivers. This resource had been developed in Canada, but the information is relevant for Australian school communities. See the following sections for information on:

• Identifying and understanding FASD (per neurodevelopmental domain and including strategies): Page 7 – 37
• Strategies for sensory processing difficulties: Page 38 – 45
• Family engagement: Page 48 – 49

Trying Differently Rather Than Harder

This book provides a readable, narrative discussion of the neurobehavioral approach for working effectively with children, adolescents, and adults with FASD. The focus is on understanding behaviours differently — reframing perceptions from “won’t” to “can’t”. Please note, this book in published in the USA and some terminology will be different from Australian terms. This resource has an associated cost.

NOFASD Webinar for teachers and educators - August 2016

An Australian webinar (45 minutes) by NOFASD that will assist teachers and educators to understand the challenges that children with FASD face in their learning journey. The webinar will:

• Outline what FASD is
• Help the participant respond to a child with FASD
• Provide strategies to support the child in the classroom
• Advise the participant where to go for more assistance and information

See the follow sections for information on:

• Identifying FASD: 4 – 25 minutes
• Classroom Strategies: 25 – 40 minutes