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Kids don’t “choose” impulsivity, shutdowns, school blow-ups or constant conflict at home, yet child protection and education systems still treat many of these behaviours like attitude problems. We sit down with William “Liam” Curran, a clinical social worker and international FASD educator, to unpack what fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) really looks like on the ground, especially the hidden presentation NDPAE (Neurodevelopmental Disorder Associated With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure) that can slip past clinicians because there are no obvious facial features.

We talk frankly about why proof of prenatal alcohol exposure is so hard to establish years later, and why that missing evidence can stall Australian diagnostic pathways even when a child’s profile screams executive functioning and adaptive functioning challenges. Liam explains how children can be bounced through foster care and schools, labelled as “bad”, and misdiagnosed with ADHD or other conditions, sometimes ending up on long lists of medications while the underlying brain-based disability remains unaddressed.

You’ll also hear a practical response: Liam’s five-step screening pathway that starts with ruling out genetic look-alikes, then uses behavioural, adaptive and executive functioning tools (including measures like the Vineland) to build an evidence-based picture before the system rushes to a label. We finish with prevention, culture, workforce training, and why “meeting needs first” is the only safe approach when services don’t magically appear after diagnosis.

William's Bio:

William (Liam) Curran, Ph.D., M.Sc., LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker originally from Ireland and currently based in Providence. Registered with the Rhode Island Department of Health, Liam brings extensive experience across multiple areas of child and family social work. Over the past 15 years, he has developed a strong focus on supporting caregivers and professionals working with individuals affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). His work centers on the identification, assessment, and practical response to suspected cases of prenatal alcohol exposure, with a particular emphasis on translating complex knowledge into real-world social work practice. Liam is a published author and an established educator, having delivered international training and professional development on FASD to social workers, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams. His approach is grounded in the social model of disability, highlighting the lived experiences of individuals and families navigating often unrecognized neurodevelopmental challenges.

In addition to his clinical work conducting neurodevelopmental assessments for children and youth with or spectated FASD, Liam serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at Simmons University, where he teaches both BSW and MSW students and advocates for bridging the gap between theory and practice. 

Links:

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheSecureStartPodcast
Podcast Blog Site: https://thesecurestartpodcast.com/

William's Linked In: linkedin.com/in/william-curran-48a9b0337

Disclaimer: Information reported by guests of this podcast is assumed to be accurate as stated. Podcast owner Colby Pearce is not responsible for any error of facts presented by podcast guests. In addition, unless otherwise specified, opinions expressed by guests of this podcast may not reflect those of the podcast owner, Colby Pearce. Finally, all references to case examples are anonymised to the extent that the actual case could not be identified, or are fictional but based on real-life examples for illustrative purp

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