Today, our son is in a CBAT

I have been trained to educate and work with caregivers and parents who have children with an FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). On a regular basis, I meet with parents of children with FASD.  I have seen traits that many of these children have in common. I’ve also seen some of the challenges that older kids have faced.  

Our son has a serious neurological disorder (ND-PAE) Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. He has brain damage. Unfortunately, he was exposed to heavy amounts of alcohol and other drugs before he was born. Since school started this year, his behavior has changed drastically. 

 Today, our 8-year-old son is in a CBAT. We have been trying to avoid this for so long. Over the last couple of weeks, it has really hit me how much help we really need. He was diagnosed with an FASD at age 4. He is such a sweet little guy and tries so hard to make people happy. However, because of the brain damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, he cannot control his emotions. He has become very unpredictable. We are dealing with physical aggression, mood dysregulation, sensory processing issues, pica (eating and chewing on things like paper, carboard, paperclips, and plastic objects), playing with his feces, anxiety, ADHD, and sleep issues.  

 Although he was getting therapy at home, he needs it at school. For two years his school continually told us that he was fine. They continued to put him in situations he could not handle. He was kept in a classroom with 24 students. He was told to do the classwork of a 3rd grader (he still cannot write the alphabet). Eventually the pressure put on him was too much. He couldn’t take the punishments at school for behaviors which he cannot control. He couldn’t keep up with the schoolwork. Eventually, he refused to go to school and became aggressive at home.  

 I visited my son yesterday at the Community Based Acute Treatment (CBAT) Center. He is safe and is being cared for. They can keep him safer than we can right now. I am now realizing just how much care and support he really does need. No matter how much I love him I can’t fix his deficits, but I am sad. I am sad that he doesn’t get to be a typical little boy. I am sad that he struggles so much. 

 Schools need to be educated about FASD. It is so common, and we see it every day. Sadly, many schools treat our kids as if they are behavior problems. We, the parents are looked at like we are crazy or do not give our kids consequences. Our son needed services and help years ago at school. 

Will the school listen to us now? I don’t know. I really don’t understand how schools can operate this way. They wait for children to fail repeatedly. This is a broken system. I don’t know when our son is coming home, and I don’t know what the school is going to do next. We do have an advocate and we are ready to get what our son needs.  

There is no cure for FASD. It is a lifelong disability. However, with appropriate, FASD-informed services and interventions designed for people with their specific neurological needs we can improve the quality of their lives.