Rare chance for caregivers at March 1-2 FAS symposium

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

High Prairie’s very own Children’s Resource Council is playing host to a very rare opportunity for the area. On March 1-2 a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Symposium will be held, hosted by CRC. Charlene McLay, of CRC, says this is a great opportunity for High Prairie and people who have or deal with children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. “It’s not very often that High Prairie gets to host an event like this for free,” says McLay. The event is being sponsored by grant money released by Health Canada to help enhance the support programs for FAS that are already going on in communities. The symposium will feature two guest speakers who specialize in dealing with FAS issues. Liz Lawryk is one of the presenters. She will be discussing all the issues that surround FAS. She provides a number of workshops regarding this topic in the Triage Institute, to parents and professionals. The next presenter is Evelyne Pilger, who will be addressing sensory integration disorders that are present with children who are affected by FAS. Sensory integration is a term for a process in the brain which pulls together all of the various sensory messages in order to form coherent information on which can act. “Typically kids with FAS are highly sensitive to light, sound, touch and everything in their environment,” says McLay. “This workshop will teach parents, caregivers and professionals how to deal with these heightened senses.” McLay adds she will also be recruiting anyone who is interested in being a respite caregiver for families who have a FAS child. “Looking after a child who has FAS is very challenging and very demanding. If you don’t get your rest you can burn out which can really hurt your relationship with the child,” says McLay. “So having someone who is willing to come and take the child for a night really helps.” The symposium will be held at the Pomeroy Inn and Suites and is free of charge. People are encouraged to attend both days, but the first is most crucial. This workshop is available for anyone interested. For more information you can contact McLay at 523-2715.

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