#53 Days To FASDay - Parent to parent support

Some of your ideas won't work and that's okay - you tried anyway!

In 2009,  Deb and Jodee tried a Family Support Show called

TOOLBOX PARENT RADIO to get the word out about living,

loving and laughing with atypical children and adults.

Since we didn't have enough listeners - we got shut down, but not shut up!

Each week we hosted special guests that open our eyes to new ideas and provide us with new tools to help parents and professionals live, love and care about atypical children and intense adults. We worked really hard on the shows and actually did 16 of them!

Don't worry if your idea doesn't work like you planned. It's okay to try again later or another way.
Families with atypical kids are busy - REALLY busy - and life can turn around and spin in a moment.

Visit our website at http://www.toolboxparent.com/ for FREE ARTICLES, forms and more to help families and professionals.

Online Manual - www.fasday.com

Seminar - Or try our easy, effective, exciting 1½ hour program that walks you

 through the morning of Sept.9: http://www.come-over.to/FASDAY/ABCDEFG/ 

(material from 2002 has excellent ideas)

Click Here For Our Past 60 Links for a Great Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day!

Follow us through the next 60 days and plan your local or personal project to build awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - Each One Can Reach One!

Need family support visit www.toolboxparent.com

Need ideas for adults living with challenges of FASD visit www.braidedcord.net

Need information on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders visit www.betterendings.org

Interested in service dog for FASD visit www.thechancerchronicles.com

http://www.toolboxparent.com

#54 Days To FASDay - Create visibility FREE QUILT

Create Visibility in Your Community


Make A Quilt Display of Public Awareness

All the pieces can be printed on your color printer. In addition there is a 11th Anniversary Special Library Bundle Offer from Better Endings New Beginnings


Show a video or give a presentation.

• This can be scheduled at your local library. If you don't feel comfortable giving a talk, your local March of Dimes office (look them up in the phone book) might be willing to provide a speaker and/or a video.


• You can purchase an excellent video for teens and young adults called "And Down Will Come Baby" for $12.50 by calling the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) toll-free (800) 729-6686 (Inventory Number VHS86). There are a limited number of copies of a good prevention video with Native American theme, “Sacred Trust” available from the same source (Inventory Number VHS100).

Become a Poster Poster!

• Print out some FASD Awareness posters and hang them up on local bulletin boards (at the store, laundromat, churches, universities, etc.) You might even get your local schools to post them.


• Here's everybody's favorite poster: "Little One" - with the link for the printable version at the bottom.


• Here's the FASD Awareness Day poster 2005 version.


• High quality color posters are available from NOFAS. If you print out some of these on photo paper at "best" resolution on your color printer, they will have a high quality appearance. You can have large posters printed from the small ones for just a few dollars at you local print shop.

Online Manual - www.fasday.com

Seminar - Or try our easy, effective, exciting 1½ hour program that walks you

 through the morning of Sept.9: http://www.come-over.to/FASDAY/ABCDEFG/ 

(material from 2002 has excellent ideas)

Click Here For Our Past 60 Links for a Great Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day!

Follow us through the next 60 days and plan your local or personal project to build awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - Each One Can Reach One!

Need family support visit www.toolboxparent.com

Need ideas for adults living with challenges of FASD visit www.braidedcord.net

Need information on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders visit www.betterendings.org

Interested in service dog for FASD visit www.thechancerchronicles.com

#55 Days To FASDay - Let adults living with Fetal Alcohol speak out

Create an adults with FASD panel to share information at your local conferences and events. They have ALOT to teach us!

Listen to the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Adult panel speak about what it is like to live with FASD. Find adults in your community that are willing to speak our and develop your own adult parent. Those who live daily with the challenges need to be heard - create a voice for your voiceless.

Read a book and learn the realities of being an adult with FASDs.

"This is a book that commands attention and one that influences us to support speaking up in defense of the un-born. Braided Cord, Tough Times In and Out is a must read for professionals in the medical, social service and re-hab fields." 

 Sara Hassler, Midwest Book Review

Midwest Book Review by SARA HASSLER REVIEW 6-25-2010

Braided Cord, Tough Times In and Out
Liz Kulp, Author
Better Endings New Beginnings

978-0984200719, $24.95, www.betterendings.org

Liz's website www.braidedcord.net to order direct from author! 

Award winning author Liz Kulp brings another outstanding literary work of art to the market in her book Braided Cord, Tough Times In and Out.

Liz Kulp is a 23 year old woman who was born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) as a result of her birth mother drinking while pregnant. As a child, Liz was in the foster care system and soon adopted at a very young age by Karl and Jodee Kulp and their family. Throughout her young life Author, Liz Kulp, kept journals and her new book, Braided Cord, is the published in-depth account of her life living with FASD. Her openness to share her feelings, her world and what the inside of her body and brain feels like is beyond brave. She is a modern day super hero who overcomes daily struggles to live in a society that does not see or fully understand her disability.

Liz Kulp takes her readers on an incredible journey deep inside the world of a sensitive growing teen and eventual mature woman who shares herself openly and completely. Fast paced, emotional and full of life lessons, readers can look forward to learning what it's like to live with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder from Ms. Kulp's amazing life experiences.

In order to help society change for the better, Author, Liz Kulp has stripped herself naked for all the world to see. She has stood alone, with her family, and before all of us, to teach us how important it is to not drink while pregnant. We applaud Liz. Kulp for her choices to persevere and reach out in order to save millions of innocent soon-to-be-born babies.

Author, Liz Kulp, pieces together diary entries in her book, Braided Cord, Tough Times In and Out. Dated logs from herself, her parents, life coaches, supportive partners and organizations make up her easy to read chapters. Reading Braided Cord is like stepping into Liz Kulp's shoes. To be a witness to a disability that you cannot see or touch and to understand another human being's world is a gift that Ms. Kulp delivers on. Kulp's audience has the chance to sit in a pampered setting as they spiritually travel her life path. Step by step, her readers are exposed to the disturbing effects that alcohol has on the human brain, the trauma it causes families, the pain it inflicts on innocent children and the burden it places on our society. Through Liz's life, we have a chance to learn, to grow and to be a part of saving lives. Her voice and written words are clear, exact and honest. Liz Kulp has made it possible for other children and families dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders to open up, share their stories so they too can transition into the world as healthy and productive individuals.

Ms. Kulp includes an appendix with resource information for her readers to learn more. There is an enormous amount of instruction included on what Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is and how communities can help, schools can teach, people can understand and medical staff can identify it. Parents, Karl and Jodee Kulp, along with the support of their family, speak about the horrifying effects that FASDs has had on their lives, work and what their future holds. Every gut-wrenching stone has been turned and thrown against the wall in order to reach readers in a way that provokes positive change.

This is a book that commands attention and one that influences us to support speaking up in defense of the un-born. Braided Cord, Tough Times In and Out is a must read for professionals in the medical, social service and re-hab fields. Libraries who want to expand their reading programs and booksellers who are involved in book clubs will greatly profit from sharing this educational and inspirational book with their patrons and communities.

Sara Hassler

Midwest Book Review

For those who have read Braided Cord Tough Times In and Out we are pleased to update you on a successful interdependence - Liz has come so far and offers insight and hope to others who struggle on this challenging journey.  - The Kulp Family

Best I Can Be - Living with Fetal Alcohol - by Liz Kulp, age 13, how I feel in my brain
Our FAScinating Journey - by Jodee Kulp and Liz Kulp, homeschool and brain based learning
Best I Can Be - Tough Times In and Out - by Liz Kulp, age 23, adult transitioning

Read more articles from Adults living with FASD

• True Commitment - Fetal Alcohol is not who I am  (Liz Kulp)
• Feeling Lost  (Ann Kagarise)
• Shadow (excerpts from Ann's new book) (Ann Kagarise)
• Basics for Teachers (Ann Kagarise)
• Concrete vs Abstract  (R.J. Formanek)
• Dear Teacher (Ann Kagarise)

Online Manual - www.fasday.com

Seminar - Or try our easy, effective, exciting 1½ hour program that walks you

 through the morning of Sept.9: http://www.come-over.to/FASDAY/ABCDEFG/ 

(material from 2002 has excellent ideas)

Click Here For Our Past 60 Links for a Great Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day!

Follow us through the next 60 days and plan your local or personal project to build awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - Each One Can Reach One!

Need family support visit www.toolboxparent.com

Need ideas for adults living with challenges of FASD visit www.braidedcord.net

Need information on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders visit www.betterendings.org

Interested in service dog for FASD visit www.thechancerchronicles.com

#56 Days To FASDay - Pick a project

Pick a Project for 
Fetal Alcohol Awareness!

Are you bookmarking everything? Using Pinterest?
Keeping notes on file in your computer?
Good!

Set up a meeting (in person, by email, or on the phone) with the other contacts in your area. Think about what a difference YOUR part will make in preventing future cases of FASD or helping children and adults already affected! Don't forget to include at least one parent, one service provider (teacher, doctor, judge), and one government leader (legislator, head of local department of mental health or developmental disabilities or corrections).

This will help you to bridge the information gap in your community!

Now pick one (or more) of the following events to turn into a news story:

1. Ring some bells. Plan your own Bell Concordance. Ask a church to ring their bells. I choose to deal with the Catholic church, because the bishop of the diocese can ask all the churches in the city to participate. In fact, the photo is our cathedral here in Tucson. Here is the letter I wrote to our diocese today. It has a sort of pro-life twist, because I know that will appeal to the Bishop. If you know a local church that has bells, write a letter and call and make an appointment to talk to whoever is in charge. Take along a few brochures. If you can’t find any bells to ring, you can simply have a Moment of Reflection.
2. Host a "BreakFASD" (after the bell ceremony perhaps?). You can ask the church if their is a community service group that might like to provide donuts and coffee in the church hall. Or invite everyone to bring a potluck dish to a nearby park, or a facility provided by a local disabilities agency. This is a good opportunity to partner up with other organizations who might like to collaborate in future projects and grant opportunities. With an informal gathering of families and community leaders, the folks who formulate local policy will get to meet the children for are impacted by how those policies are implemented. It might also provide an opportunity to start a local support group for parents and families.
3. Start a support group. It only takes two of you to begin with. After the news story, families will reach out to you and you will meet the folks who will do all this work for you next year! Call your local library and reserve a meeting room. Set a date and time that is convenient for you. We are going to meet the day after FASD Awareness DAY this year. The library is a good place, because they usually have computers and Internet access (you might want to reserve an hour, if necessary), and you can show local folks all the cool Internet sights. Some fun and interesting web sites will be provided to you later.
4. Plan a "Walk-Along" - round up your city's disability groups (like The Arc). Even if you only get a dozen people together and at least one special walker (someone you know with FAS/FAE), you will have a crowd worthy of media attention. This is kind of like a Walk-a-thon but not exactly. It's called a "Walk-Along" to remind everyone that kids with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders will need someone to "walk along" with them for the rest of their life, because they are at risk of failing if they try to go through life on their own. Instead of pledging dollars per mile, people can make straight donations to support the walker. Donations can be made to an umbrella organization, like your local Arc chapter. Inform your local Arc chapter that the National Arc has made funds available just for FASD Prevention. Our Arc recognizes the need for preventing secondary disabilities as well as preventing FASD itself, and awareness about secondary disabilities is included in Arc awareness events here. More about the "Walk-Along" later. Just find a public place like a park or a lake or a mountain trail that you can use as a meeting place (and media interview place). Look at what Minnesota did!
5. Plan a public Information Table. Call the manager of your local shopping mall. Ask if you can have a table for your FASD Support Group (even if it is only you and your family) to distribute information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

NEED MATERIALS?
They are only one click away!

• You can print FASD handouts and get them copied at a local disability agency or parent to parent organization or your local Arc. These Think Before You Drink brochures from the Arc are nice.
• You can download and print these FASD fact sheets.
• Buy several bags of Snickers mini bars and pass them out with one of these FASD cards. (Use card stock or standard business card forms.) Your local March of Dimes (look in the phone book) might contribute bulk brochures.
• Oh yes - here's a basic info sheet, very simple, and a documented FASD Fact Sheet, just print and copy.
• Make some FAS Knots. Or just order them here.

Online Manual - www.fasday.com

Seminar - Or try our easy, effective, exciting 1½ hour program that walks you

 through the morning of Sept.9: http://www.come-over.to/FASDAY/ABCDEFG/ 

(material from 2002 has excellent ideas)

Click Here For Our Past 60 Links for a Great Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day!

Follow us through the next 60 days and plan your local or personal project to build awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - Each One Can Reach One!

Need family support visit www.toolboxparent.com

Need ideas for adults living with challenges of FASD visit www.braidedcord.net

Need information on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders visit www.betterendings.org

Interested in service dog for FASD visit www.thechancerchronicles.com

#57 Days To FASDay - Pick a reporter

HERE'S ANOTHER THING YOU CAN DO.

Pick a Reporter!

Next time you read the local newspaper, pay attention to which reporters write about personal interest stories.

Choose a reporter who seems to be sensitive to special family or children's issues, who will do a respectful interview with a family or spokesperson. This spokesperson doesn't have to be you, but it could be! We'll walk you through it - piece of cake.

Write down the name of the reporter and find out the phone number and address of the newspaper. Later you are going to ask for an appointment and give them a press release.

Would you like to conduct a 5-minute radio interview on your favorite radio station?
Here is an interview script for you and a radio person or you can just read this one-person script.

Before contacting the media, it might be helpful to go over these suggestions from FASDAY veterans, Teresa Kellerman and Brian Philcox.

Also consider Blogs, Facebook, Google Plus, Radio, TV, local news, church bulletins, community events calendars.

CONGRATULATIONS TO KIM "YOU" MADE A DIFFERENCE!

Hi Everyone,
On a whim, the other night I thought I would try to get FASD Day put on the website of an international Christian Radio station-KLOVE's- community calender.

I never really thought they would approve it because it wasn't an actual "event" that I have here in BG, and they requested specific information on the form that I couldn't really give.
But they did approve it- now all of the millions of people who look at their site will know about FASD day. And they might put it on their radio station. Its kind of a grab bag what events they promote on the air- but I'm excited.

Locally we don't have specific plans yet to my knowledge, but I thought this was a great way to spread the word.

Take care,
Kim

We hope that your event is successful and that God will bless it!
~ Your friends at KLOVE.com

Celebrate
International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day
Main Street, City, State ZIP
Join us for (this is your idea)
Time (9:09 suggested but it can be anytime)

This day is set aside each year internationally to raise awareness on the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. September 9, was chosen to represent 9 months of no alcohol. The above website describes the first FASD day and how it turned into an international awareness day event.
Event Website: http://fasday.com/BirthFASDay.htm

GO KIM!

Online Manual - www.fasday.com

Seminar - Or try our easy, effective, exciting 1½ hour program that walks you

 through the morning of Sept.9: http://www.come-over.to/FASDAY/ABCDEFG/ 

(material from 2002 has excellent ideas)

Click Here For Our Past 60 Links for a Great Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day!

Follow us through the next 60 days and plan your local or personal project to build awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - Each One Can Reach One!

Need family support visit www.toolboxparent.com

Need ideas for adults living with challenges of FASD visit www.braidedcord.net

Need information on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders visit www.betterendings.org

Interested in service dog for FASD visit www.thechancerchronicles.com