FASD Awareness Day & Month

The month of September is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month. Let's talk about FASD!
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FASD awareness has been celebrated on September 9th since 1999, however, 1 day is not enough for FASD awareness. FASD is the leading cause of developmental disability in Canada, with approximately 4% of the Canadian population being affected by FASD (which is more than autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome combined).
 
In September of 2020, the Government of Canada officially recognized September as FASD Awareness Month, expanding awareness initiatives. September is dedicated to raising awareness around FASD to improve the prevention of FASD, the assessment and diagnosis processes, and life-long support for individuals with FASD. Throughout September, events are held all across the world in recognition of FASD awareness. 

2025 #DidYouKnow

Learn More About FASD
Each year we post #DidYouKnow facts about FASD for the month leading up to Awareness Day. Do any of these facts surprise you?
Find these posts on our social media @fasdNL, or search the #DidYouKnow hashtag!
This year, we encourage you to learn more about FASD! Every day in September, we are sharing one of our resources to help you learn about FASD. You can find these posts on our social media @fasdNL, and all featured resources, on our website. 

​FASD Awareness Month Toolkit

Click to download our FASD Awareness Month toolkit! It includes social media images for FASD Awareness Day and Month and you are welcome to share or post them. Be sure to tag us @fasdNL!

FASD Awareness Activities

Rock Art Painting 

​Red Shoes Rock
Learn how to create FASD rock art with our FASD Rock Art Painting Guide! Also available in French. Paint positive FASD messages on rocks and hide them around your community. Take a photo of your rocks and tag us, @fasdNL on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!
Red Shoes Rock is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness around FASD, by paininting red shoes on rocks and hiding them around your community. Check out our Rock Art Painting Guide for more information. 
Visit https://redshoesrock.com/ for more details! 

Lighting of Government Buildings

Each year, we ask governments to recognize FASD awareness day by lighting their key buildings in red! In 2023, Government House, City Hall and the Confederation Building in St. John's were lit to mark FASD awareness!
Government House, St. John's, NL
City Hall, St. John's, NL
Confederation Building, St. John's, NL

Past Activities

#DidYouKnow FASD Facts - 2024

Putting FASD "On the Map" 2023

​Together, we are putting FASD on the Map! To help spread awareness and accurate messaging about FASD, fasdNL invited all municipalities, town, cities and provinces all across the 4 Atlantic Provinces to proclaim September of 2023, as FASD Awareness Month! In total, we had 40 locations across Atlantic Canada proclaim September, 2023 as FASD Awareness Month! These include:

Newfoundland & Labrador

​Province of Newfoundland & Labrador
Appleton
Corner Brook
Fortune
Frenchman's Cove
Gambo
Gander
Grand Bank
Grand Falls
Grand Le Pierre
Harbour Breton
​Hearts Delight
Lamaline
Lawn
​Middle Cove/Outer/Logy Bay
Norris Point
Placentia
Portugal Cove St. Phillips
Provincial
Renews/Cappahayden
Roddicton-Bide Arm
South Brook
St. Anthony
St. John's
St. Lawrence
Torbay
Wabush

Nova Scotia

​Amherst
Bridgewater
Cape Breton
Cumberland
Halifax
Memramcook
Oxford
Richmond County
Trenton
Wolfville

New Brunswick

​Province of New Brunswick
Beaurivage/Richibucto
Fredericton
Saint John
We thank all who took part and the provinces of Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for their awareness efforts!