Alcohol is the most preventable cause of developmental disabilities.
The common myth is that only women struggling with alcoholism are at risk of having a child with an FASD. Any child whose mother drinks during pregnancy has the risk of disabilities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Unfortunately, too many women and men are not educated about the possible dangers of consuming even low levels of alcohol while pregnant.
Often with an unplanned pregnancy, a woman may not be aware that she is pregnant. She continues to consume alcohol during the early months of her pregnancy, unaware that the fetus may sustain permanent organic brain damage. Disabilities can include the following: medical, cognitive, neurological, linguistic, motor, learning disabilities and mental health issues.