Talking about

exceptionalities with
Shelby Anne

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a term currently

used throughout North America to refer to a variety of
physical changes and neurological and/or psychometric
patterns of brain damage associated with fetal exposure to
alcohol during pregnancy
- Teaching Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Building
Strengths, Creating Hope (2004) Alberta Education

4 Ss + C as described by Maureen Murphy (1991)

Structure
Supervision
Simplicity
Steps
+ Context

Dr. Emersons advice/strategies

Direct Instruction, Visual aids and cues in both instruction and assigned work
Avoid vague or abstract instructions: use concrete and concise
direction instead
Teach and talk about personal space issues
Incorporate charts, manipulatives, diagrams, pictures, music, videos etc.
for a more hands on experience help them see and feel the
information
Model and practice behaviour expectations, giving concrete instruction
(as opposed to abstract instructions, e.g. behave yourself)
Reduce amount of required work, increasing as per ability
Break large assignments into smaller components (to build
confidence and a sense of accomplishment)

Miss Davis advice/strategies

Create opportunities for student interaction with similar developmental levels either
through peer activities or free time activities
Help with organization skills provide colour coded bins, binders, boxes, cubbies,
furniture, or even a taped off space to give them the needed structure for learning
Provide tools for areas of struggle: e.g., tape recorder or computer if they
struggle in writing
Provide daily and weekly schedule to student building routines can help reduce
stress
Form friendship building groups with the primary goal of social communication as
well as creating a stronger classroom community through friendship and
understanding
Decrease competitive groupings and increase cooperative groupings to reduce
conflict