“The Hidden Costs of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure,” written by Sarah Hamersma, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in the Institute for Family Studies' blog. Following is an excerpt:

Imagine that the most common developmental disability in the U.S. could be prevented during pregnancy. We might expect to see loads of attention (and money) dedicated to the cause, and widespread support for taking action to prevent children from facing unnecessary challenges.

In the U.S. we find ourselves in this very situation of preventable disability, though it is not well-known and even less well-funded. Our most common source of developmental disability is fetal alcohol exposure, resulting in conditions under the umbrella of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (or FASDs, which include Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and related conditions).

Supports for individuals with FASD and their families are few and far between. The services needed range from educational accommodations to mental health care, from occupational therapy to meds management, and from respite care to residential treatment. Despite these needs, medical education and social work education pay little attention to FASDs.

Families must forge their own path, first to seek diagnosis, since this can at least connect them with specialized parent training and coaching and support groups. The diagnosis will not generally qualify the child for disability services in most states, so access to care can be limited by insurance coverage and the willingness of schools to qualify a student for special education. This heavy lift for parents is often done in a context where there are other complications (beyond the challenges and exhaustion of parenting).