The FASD Success Show

Annette Kunzman co-founded FASD Network of Southern California in 2010 and was integral in establishing it as a non-profit organization in 2014. She has served as Secretary and Treasurer and currently as President. Annette holds a Master’s in Management degree from Northwestern University and received her undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska. She was certified as a Chartered Financia...

I’ve interviewed and learned from a lot of people over the years, but this latest podcast guest has an interesting perspective and an engaging way. This is one of my 10 timer episodes – you will want to listen at least 10 times to unpack everything Sheila Burns has to say.   I first saw Sheila at a Conference in Northern Ontario. She tells me her background in children’s mental health, women’s hea...

What a fun episode this is - because come on - who doesn’t love dogs - especially assistance dogs who help individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.   Ali McCormick has gone from dog trainer to Foster Carer to FASD Caregiver to Social Worker to Assistance Dog Trainer. And what a wild ride it’s been for her and her family. Ali, like most of our caregivers and professionals, learned about FA...

In today’s podcast we meet author, advocate, mom, wife, and adoptee Rebecca Tillou, who is also an individual on the Spectrum.  Adopted at birth, Rebecca grew up with a loving family, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (Speech Pathology) and now works as a Claims Adjuster - a job she loves and excels in. She knew she was adopted, but it wasn’t until she was...

I read a fantastic article by a caregiver of an individual on the Spectrum and thought … mmm, who wrote this?  I discovered it was none other than Paula Schuck, freelancer, social media guru, and blogger – but also a parent in our private FASD Success Caregiver Group.  I immediately knew I had to bring her on the podcast to share her fantastic tips on parenting a teen with FASD.  Success looks dif...

The timing of this podcast with Dr. Jeffrey Wozniak could not have been better. Little did I know a media story would appear two days before this podcast release, about the four year follow up study he and his team completed on choline for children with Fetal Alcohol. And boy did our group explode with posts and parents wanting to purchase or order. See that’s the thing with headlines, and announc...

Jodee Kulp’s journey is a familiar one. Adopting a child with undiagnosed Prenatal Alcohol Exposure from a system that just did not get it. She was told: “Love her, she will probably come through.” Professionals did not get it. They still don’t. But what sets her apart from other caregivers that have been guests on this podcast series is how she gets it. And we will get to that. But first, we talk...

Have you ever said: I just wish every professional who works with my child had a child with FASD – so they would GET IT? Well Dr. Vanessa Spiller GETS IT! She is the parent of a young adult with FASD who also happens to be a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years experience in working therapeutically with disadvantaged young people and families. She has been a university lecturer and university...

Today we dive deep into an area that takes a lot of soul searching, but sometimes is necessary to preserve relationships and the family: residential care and group homes. We talk with a caregiver not only on the front lines of parenting an individual with FASD and trauma – but in the midst of the riots in Minnesota: Barb Clark is a Parent Support and Training Specialist with the North American Cou...

I met Matthew at one of the very first conferences I spoke at. His story is definitely one of reinvention. He is a trained dancer, speaker and recently after working in an office environment went back to College, to study both cooking and landscaping. We start the podcast talking about how he is dealing with the new reality of COVID 19.  “I am still surviving. It’s having to make my own plans. It’...

I am stoked to talk to Colette Philcox today – not only an individual on the spectrum, but the daughter of Brian Philcox and Bonnie Buxton – and the inspiration for Bonnie’s book: Damaged Angels. Colette is a mother of two – one on the spectrum, is an advocate and holds down a job in the film industry.  Colette story will inspire hope in individuals and caregivers. Adopted at 4, she was on the str...

What an absolute honour to present to you on today’s podcast – Mr. Brian Philcox – affectionately known as “Grandpa Brian.” With his wife Bonnie Buxton, he is the founder of FASworld, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness for FASD and supporting caregivers. Bonnie is author of Damaged Angels, one of the most influential books to this day on Fetal Alcohol. In addition to being parents of an in...

I am excited to bring this podcast episode to you as Lisa has been a champion of mine ever since I first met her while speaking in Saskatchewan. Not only does Lisa share her professional experience as a (now retired) Occupational Therapist, a member of the Board of Directors of CanFASD, but she has also raised two individuals on the Spectrum and is currently raising a grandchild. Her experience ra...

 Susan Elsworth, Founder and Director of Indiana NOFAS  Susan has a BA in Business Management and an AS in Criminal Justice and Corrections. A former foster parent, she and her husband Duane are parents to 13 children, including 5 with FASD, 1 with Celiac Disease and 3 with Reactive Attachment Disorder. In addition, she mentors foster and adoptive parents, advocates, presents and serves on several...

As a treatment-level foster parent in Ohio for 3 years, Aubrey noticed many of her kids had similar symptoms that were not trauma based.  After one of her children was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, her eyes were opened to the prevalence of this disability.    This led her on a path to discover everything she could about Prenatal Alcohol Exposure through reading, research and semi...

Dr. Mansfield Mela is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. His clinical practice is out of the Forensic Outpatient Clinic at University of Saskatchewan and the Forensic Inpatients Services at Regional Psychiatric Center, Saskatoon. His interest in FASD began with a desire to better understand and assist his clients who he felt at the time were not co-operating. G...

Micheal Harris is a Licensed Psychologist and FASD Speaker. He also happens to be a foster parent to a now adult on the Spectrum. During this pandemic we know not only individuals with FASD are anxious, but so are caregivers. In order to reduce anxiety, he tells us, “You need to define it and name it before you can move forward” and support your children. In this podcast you will learn: - What is...

Darlene is mom to a neurotypical adult son and an almost 13 year old daughter with FASD. She is a Registered Early Childhood Educator who teaches for a local college but has been a homeschooler for 22 years. She founded Team LOVE to support her daughter, which has become her community passion project connecting families raising a child with Fetal Alcohol. With the recent events and closures of sch...

R.J. Formanek is an FASD speaker, educator, creator of Flying With Broken Wings, a Facebook Support Group for Individuals with FASD, the caregivers and professionals who support them, as well as the inspiration behind and partner in the Red Shoes Rock international awareness alliance. Oh and did I mention, he is on the Spectrum? R.J.’s story is an adventure of hope and an inspiration from how he b...

Meet Dr. Ira J. Chasnoff. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Chasnoff about his work and his book: FASD and the Online World, a hot topic for many caregivers.  This guy is no joke! Dr. Chasnoff opened the first clinic in the United States on prenatal drug and alcohol exposure. He is Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois at College of Medicine, an author of 12 books, a rese...

Meet Elizabeth (Anne) Russell.  She is the founder of The Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Association. Anne is also the birth mother of two individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder(FASD).  This is a raw and powerful story of a birth mom who went from feeling “absolute, crushing anguish and unbearable grief” to helping save lives through her determination to raise FASD aware...

Meet Dr. Catherine Lebel as she describes her introduction into FASD and MRI’s as “serendipitous”. Catherine and her team study people’s brains and how they develop and grow -- specifically trying to figure out how the brains of neuro-typical individuals may be different from those who have experienced prenatal alcohol exposure.   In this week's episode we talk about:  -Is it necessary, impor...

Meet Jennifer. Jennifer Shadel is a stay-at-home-Mom to three kiddos with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. When she's not working hard to keep all the pieces together, Jennifer escapes to her small space to create hilarious and relateable parody songs about life as an FASD Mom. What started as something she did to keep her kids moving throughout the day has turned into an amazing YouTube chan...

Sleep impacts everyone, but more so for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. In fact, according to Dr. Ana, up to 85% of individuals on the spectrum will have sleep issues. In this episode Jeff interviews Dr. Ana Hanlon-Dearman, MD,FRCPC,FAAP. Dr. Ana Hanlon-Dearman is a Developmental Pediatrician at the Manitoba FASD Centre and at the Child Development Clinic with the Child Health Pr...

Jody adopted three children with FASD. She was told they needed some "consistency" and "routine". If only she and her husband knew what her knew family actually needed. Sound familiar?  Meet Jody. From struggling parent with three children on the spectrum to FASD Family Mentor to 80 families.  Jody is a truth cannon who tells it like it is -- including her own struggles with an...