Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, mental retardation at NOFAS

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Protecting children and families by fighting the leading known cause of mental retardation and birth defects

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“When he was eight, our son Dalante's second grade teacher said to us, 'I think this child has FAS.' At this point in time, we had been involved in social systems, medical systems, psychiatric systems and educational systems, and yet this was the first time that FAS had been brought up. We're hopeful to get an accurate diagnosis. He is a wonderful little boy. We fear for his future. He is extremely naļve. He is extremely sweet. He would be the ideal drug runner. He would be the ideal child to be taken advantage of and this has already happened with food fights in the cafeteria: somebody gives him a dime and promises to be his friend, so he takes the blame.”
Francine White

NOFAS Newsroom

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Take Center Stage on Capitol Hill

May 12, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tom Donaldson
President
(202) 785-4585

WASHINGTON—Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) took center stage at the Capitol Hill premiere of the Prism Awards with Law and Order: Special Victims Unit winning an award in the category of Drama Series Episode for Television. The award-winning episode, "Choice," ran on November 4^th. The storyline followed an expectant mother after an attack as she switched from victim to accused when her husband charged that she endangered her child by drinking excessively.

"We are delighted that the episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit called 'Choice,' which highlighted FASD, was chosen as one of this year's winners," said Tom Donaldson, President of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. "We at the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome salute Law and Order: Special Victims Unit on this commendable achievement and the Prism Awards for recognizing programming that is not only entertaining, but also a realistic portrayal of substance abuse and addiction."

The Prism Awards Capitol Hill premiere draws top policymakers from across Washington and leaders from social and health issue advocacy organizations. This year's Honorary Chairs of the Capitol Hill premiere of the Prism Awards include: Senators Boxer, Feinstein, Hatch, Corzine, Grassley, Schumer, and Representatives Bono, Dreier, Rodriguez, Waxman, Cummings, Foley, Tauzin, Watson, and Wu.

"With 40,000 babies born each year with FASD, it is critical that we as a society work together to combat what amounts to roughly one out of every 100 babies having preventable birth defects," said Kathy Tavenner Mitchell, Vice President of NOFAS and birth mother of a child with fetal alcohol syndrome. "Entertainment programming that provides an accurate depiction of substance use and addiction is a step in the right direction. Bringing together our nation's leaders to recognize the importance of taking action is another."

The Prism Awards are presented annually by the Entertainment Industries Council in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse with airing partner FX network. The Awards recognize the accurate depiction of drug, alcohol and tobacco use in entertainment programming.

NOFAS, a nonprofit organization founded in 1990, is dedicated to eliminating birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and improving the quality of life for those individuals affected. NOFAS is committed to raising public awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders—the leading cause of mental retardation and birth defects—through education, intervention, and advocacy.