Living with FASD

When a child with a neurodevelopmental difference walks into a classroom and experiences sudden dysregulation, the default institutional reaction is often disciplinary: labeling the student as oppositional, defiant, or non-compliant. But what if the culprit is an invisible environmental trigger—like fluorescent light hums, historical sensory trauma, or an exhausted metabolic battery?

In this episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper is joined once again by authors and advocates Carl Young and Joel Sheagren to explore practical, real-world applications of Patti’s 4D Framework in education, IEP advocacy, and daily family life.

Carl and Joel discuss their upcoming holiday book release, Embracing Capacity, and unveil the Collaborative Support Triad (CST) model—a third-party support mechanism designed to bridge the communication gap between schools, students, and families. Together, they examine how environmental audits can replace punitive behavioral models, the power of neuroprint passports, and why addressing sensory and metabolic capacity creates a direct path to classroom success.

Meet Carl Young & Joel Sheagren

Carl Young and Joel Sheagren are fathers, prolific authors, and advocates within the neurodiversity and FASD communities. Raising children navigating combinations of FASD, autism, ADHD, and developmental trauma, they collaborate under the Embrace ecosystem to create actionable resources for parents, educators, and systems. Their collaborative work spans the books Embracing Hope, Embrace Neurodiversity, the upcoming Embracing Capacity, as well as educational apps, grant-funded interventions, and film projects.

Key Discussion Takeaways

• The Collaborative Support Triad (CST): Introducing a dedicated third-party educational support role—operating much like a "cognitive interpreter"—to align parents, educators, and neurodivergent students without adversarial tension.
• Decoding the Environment (D3): A compelling case study of a student whose dysregulation was localized to a single room—highlighting how sensory loads, fluorescent fixture frequencies, and relational memory dictate nervous system safety.
• The 4 Dimensions in Practice: Moving beyond standard behaviorism and basic neurobehavioral concepts by systematically auditing:
• Strengths as Counterbalance: Why leaning into a student's high-interest areas can temporarily expand cognitive capacity and unlock sustained engagement.
• The 1:1 Rule in IEP Advocacy: Carl’s two-decade rule for special education meetings: For every deficit or negative noted by the school, the team must identify at least one positive strength.
• Tools for the Field: An inside look at practical tools from the 4D Living with FASD companion materials, including the Neuroprint Passport and Anticipatory Wellness Cards.

Featured Books & Resources

Explore the Embrace Series: Look out for Embracing Capacity by Carl Young and Joel Sheagren launching this holiday season, along with their existing titles Embracing Hope and Embrace Neurodiversity.

Connect with Patti: Visit patriciakasper.com for trauma-informed coaching, training, and framework resources.

Read Patti's New Book: 4D Living with FASD: Shared Voices, Clearer Understanding available now at books.by/yourfasdcoach

Connect with Patti: Visit patriciakasper.com

What happens when families navigating neurodevelopmental disabilities step into faith communities hoping for soul care, only to be met with misunderstanding, behavioral judgment, or even exclusion?

In this powerful, candid conversation, host Patti Kasper sits down with returning guests and authors Carl Young and Joel Sheagren to discuss their groundbreaking new book, Embrace Neurodiversity. Sharing vulnerable personal stories—from being served legal letters banning them from church property to being asked if they had considered an exorcism for their child—Joel and Carl reveal the deep heartbreak of church hurt.

Yet, this conversation is not about grievance or blame; it is saturated with grace, theological depth, and practical solutions. Together, they explore how ministry teams can move from managing behavior to understanding underlying symptoms, why concrete language must replace abstract religious phrases, and the profound biblical truth that in Christ, every wire has a purpose.

Key Discussion Takeaways

• Transforming Church Hurt into Hope: Turning painful exclusions—like legal dismissal letters and isolation—into positive advocacy and a gentler, more inclusive ministry model.
• Seeing Symptoms, Not Behaviors: Why physical discomfort, sensory saturation, or dysregulation in a pew or Sunday school classroom is a physiological stress response, not moral defiance.
• Concrete vs. Abstract Church Language: How abstract theological statements (like "Christ died for your sins") can baffle concrete thinkers, and how to translate biblical love into literal, practical actions (like specific hospitality tasks).
• "In Him, Every Wire Has a Purpose": Moving beyond deficit checklists to recognize that atypical neurological wiring reflects intentional design and brings vital spiritual gifts to the whole body of faith.
• Addressing PAE and Stigma in Congregations: Confronting the reality that over 15% of children may be prenatally exposed to alcohol, and why churches must replace parental blame with generational support.
• Reaching the Margins: Returning to the biblical mandate of Isaiah and the gospels to minister to the disenfranchised rather than protecting institutional comfort.

Featured Resources & Links

• Get the Book: Pick up Embrace Neurodiversity by Carl Young and Joel Sheagren. Available on Amazon, or for 15% off if you scan the QR code on Monday’s New Episode Announcement post)!
• Read Patti's New Book: 4D Living with FASD: Shared Voices, Clearer Understanding by Patricia Kasper, MA is available now at books.by/yourfasdcoach!
• Remember to like/share/subscribe wherever you watch/listen to the podcast – dong so will help more people find it and learn about FASD.

During my prep week ahead of today’s release, I was traveling for an out-of-state medical appointment. Because of this, I have compiled 6 clips from earlier in the year, which I hope you will enjoy… my first ever “best of” episode, featuring Alice Foote, Barb Clark, Carl Young, Mary Byrnes, Shannon Butts and Antonia Rathbun Lindsey.

Please leave me a comment and let me know how I did, because for non-techy me, the learning curve was steep.

Meanwhile, if you would like to pick up a copy of my “groundbreaking book” (per Sandra Flach), – 4D Living with FASD: Shared Voices, Clearer Understanding.

In it, I weave a tapestry of many threads – living experiences voices as well as professionals of many types, voices of FASD pioneers, and my new 4D Framework to better understand FASD and support those living with it.

You can find it at please visit books.by/yourfasdcoach or Amazon

In this episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper is reunited with UK advocate, horticulturist, and mentor Maggie May for a lively, candid, and deeply practical conversation. Catching up on their journeys since Season 1, Patti and Maggie dive into the Adult Leadership Collaboration’s (ALC) newest groundbreaking project: the 3rd Lay of the Land Survey, focusing on funded services versus the reality of unfunded supports for adults living with FASD.

Together, they pull back the curtain on why millions of dollars in allocated funding often never trickle down to the individuals who need it most. From bureaucratic hurdles—like lack of printers, transportation barriers, and confusing paperwork—to the sheer burnout of navigating unaccommodating systems, Maggie shares why lived-experience research is essential to redirecting resources where they actually matter. They also explore the life-changing power of peer mentorship, travel hacks for sensory regulation, and why "normal" belongs on a map, not on a human being!

Meet Maggie May

Maggie May is an adult FASD advocate, mentor, and horticulturist based in the UK and Ireland. A member of the Adult Leadership Collaboration (ALC) and an admin for the Flying with Broken Wings peer support community, Maggie works directly with neurodivergent teens and adults to foster self-advocacy, communication skills, and connection. Her passion centers on creating safe spaces where individuals with FASD can unmask, connect, and thrive without judgment.

Key Takeaways & Discussion Points

• The 3rd Lay of the Land Survey
• The Paperwork & Access Barrier
• Finding Your Tribe & Unmasking
• Deconstructing the "Normal" Myth
• Travel Survival & Sensory Dosing:
• Peer Mentorship

Participate in the 3rd Lay of the Land Survey!

If you are an adult (18+) living with an FASD, your voice and experience are critically needed. Take the survey at your own pace, take breaks whenever you need, and help reshape the future of adult funding and community support!   

👉  https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrock.ca1.qualtrics.com%2Fjfe%2Fform%2FSV_3VQc769cKFvMDxs&trk=flagship-messaging-web&messageThreadUrn=urn%3Ali%3AmessagingThread%3A2-ZGU3NGVkY2UtMGVlMC00OGViLTlmNmQtMjExN2EzZWM4ZmYzXzEwMA%3D%3D&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_messaging_conversation_detail%3BUV0qSlXATnOohb0nVxb6OQ%3D%3D

Featured Books & Resources

• Read the New Book: 4D Living with FASD: Shared Voices, Clearer Understanding by Patricia Kasper, MA is officially out now! Grab your copy and check out companion resources at books.by/yourfasdcoach.
• Peer Community: Connect with Maggie May and peers in the Flying with Broken Wings adult FASD support community.

Help Spread the Word!

Please take a moment to Like, Subscribe, and Share this episode on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube! Every share helps the algorithms place these vital conversations in front of families, adults, and professionals—expanding understanding, funding equity, and dignity for the entire FASD community.

In this episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper welcomes Dr. Carol Brown, Ed.D., founder of the Equipping Minds Brain Development Center in Kentucky. Drawing on more than four decades of experience across counseling, crisis centers, school administration, and neurodevelopmental intervention, Dr. Brown shares her journey into cognitive training and neuroplasticity. Inspired by her own son’s processing delays and working memory challenges, Dr. Brown created a holistic, play-based curriculum designed to strengthen cognitive pathways across the lifespan—from young children to adults navigating neurodevelopmental conditions, trauma, and cognitive decline.

Patti and Dr. Brown explore the profound power of games, multi-layered symbology, and mediated learning to disarm brain defenses, eliminate anxiety, and unlock potential. They also discuss the "Cognitive Bloom," the lifelong reality of FASD, and why the brain remains capable of growth at any age.

About Dr. Carol Brown

Dr. Carol Brown, Ed.D., is the developer of the Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Curriculum. She has dedicated her career to helping learners who struggle with processing speed, working memory, executive functioning, and attention. Through her clinic, school partnerships, and international outreach, Dr. Brown equips educators, therapists, and parents with affordable, research-backed tools that utilize games, movement, and ancient coding systems to foster genuine cognitive growth.

Key Takeaways

• Play Disarms the Defense System: Fear and anger shut down learning; intentional, joyful games open up neurological pathways and make skill-building sustainable.
• Ancient Coding & Cognitive Growth: Using shapes, colors, letters, animals, and symbols in layered card games trains working memory, visual processing, and multi-step direction following.
• Meeting the Brain Where It Is: Cognitive training works best when it builds strictly on what the learner already knows, avoiding overwhelm and frustration.
• The "I See You" Verbal Visualization: Adapting an instruction technique used by emergency personnel and surgeons—stating and repeating actions aloud—transforms self-perception and executive execution.
• Lifespan Neuroplasticity & The Cognitive Bloom: Brain development and emotional maturity don’t end in childhood; with the right environmental scaffolding and intentional exercises, growth happens across all ages.

Resources & Connect with Dr. Carol Brown

• Website: equippingminds.com
• Free Video Content: Check out the Equipping Minds YouTube Channel for over 100 demonstrations and webinars.
• Curriculum & Materials: Explore the beginner/extreme card decks, teacher workbooks, and the Roses Program online.

Exciting Book Announcement!

📚 4D Living with FASD: Shared Wisdom, Clearer Understanding officially launches September 9!

Pre-order your copy, explore study resources, and dive into the 4D Framework at books.by/yourfasdcoach.

Help Spread the Word!

If this episode encouraged or enlightened you, please take a moment to Like, Subscribe, and Share the podcast on your favorite streaming platform and YouTube!

In this special roundtable, Patti Kasper is joined by four leaders and authors in the FASD community—Barb Clark, Carl Young, Jodee Kulp, and Dr. Kathryn Page—for an open, unfiltered conversation about aging with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. While headlines and resources frequently focus on pediatric care, adults with FASD face a unique lifespan trajectory. The panel explores the tension between experiencing a midlife "Cognitive Bloom" while navigating accelerated physical burnout, the reality of managing complex whole-body comorbidities, and how late-life identification replaces decades of self-blame with profound self-grace.

Meet the Panelists

• Dr. Kathryn Page (Kathy): Former director of the FASD diagnostic clinic at a county hospital in Northern California and the trainer for Los Angeles County's recent mandatory FASD mental health training. Kathy also joined Patti as co-host for the first three episodes of Living with FASD.
• Jodee Kulp: Co-founder of the global Red Shoes Rock movement, international speaker, certified health coach, advanced service dog trainer, and the most prolific author in the FASD space. She is the founder and operator of the Better Endings, New Beginnings publishing company.
• Barb Clark: FASD author (Raising Kids and Teens with FASD and the upcoming The A to Z of FASD), professional life coach, parent advocate, speaker, and trainer.
• Carl Young: FASD author (Embracing Hope, Embracing Neurodiversity, and Embracing Capacity), professional speaker, trainer, and active legislative policy advocate in North Dakota.

Featured Books & Author Links

• Patti Kasper:
  • 4D Living with FASD: Shared Voices, Clearer Understanding – Launching September 9, 2026! Get yours at books.by/yourfasdcoach
  • Discover Your 4D Life: The FASD Living Experience (Companion Study Guide) – Coming soon!
• Jodee Kulp:
  • Explore Jodee’s full collection of memoirs, fiction, and educational series on her Amazon Store and via Better Endings, New Beginnings
• Barb Clark:
  • Raising Kids and Teens with FASD: Advice and Strategies to Help Your Family to Thrive!
• Carl Young:
  • Embracing Hope: Innovative Strategies to Empower Parents Raising Neurodiverse Teens (co-authored with Joel Sheagren)
  • Browse Carl's co-authored series on Amazon

Help Spread the Word!

If this conversation resonated with you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share this episode on your favorite podcast app and YouTube! Doing so helps algorithms put these vital conversations in front of more people.

In this episode of Living with FASD, Patti sits down with neurodevelopmentalist Toni Hager to explore practical, bottom-up approaches to brain organization and sensory integration. Toni shares the origin of the Hager Vortex—a 12-level developmental framework developed alongside Jodee Kulp—and explains why struggling brains are not disabled, but disorganized. From simple daily sensory exercises like deep pressure stimulation to visual tracking and primitive reflex integration, Toni breaks down accessible, hands-on strategies to calm the nervous system, reduce meltdowns, and support lifelong neurodevelopment.

Key Takeaways

• Brain Organization vs. Disability: A struggling brain often lacks foundational sensory organization rather than the ability to learn; addressing developmental levels from the base up allows higher functions to fall into place.
• The Hager Vortex: Human brain development builds sequentially from the metabolic system and primitive reflexes up through sensory channels (tactile, visual, auditory) to motor and cognitive output.
• Calming Overwhelm with Deep Pressure: Firm, deep pressure applied to joints, hands, arms, and feet stimulates deep proprioceptive nerves, lasting up to two hours to help ground dysregulated nervous systems during sensory overload.
• Visual & Auditory Digit Spans: Simple daily sequencing exercises (e.g., repeating numbers with a 1-second pause or identifying visual objects) directly strengthen auditory and visual processing speed.
• Movement as Brain Food: Repetitive functional movements—like standing up and sitting down from a chair or gentle trampoline bouncing—activate the vestibular system and organize neural pathways.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & introducing neurodevelopmentalist Toni Hager
• 01:05 – The origin story: Meeting Jodee Kulp and creating the Hager Vortex
• 07:35 – Understanding the base of the brain: Metabolic foundations & primitive reflexes
• 12:03 – Deep pressure technique: How and why proprioceptive input calms the nervous system
• 17:05 – Vision, tracking, and the development of the visual cortex
• 21:55 – Practical exercises to boost auditory and visual processing (digit spans)
• 31:54 – Primitive reflex integration and its link to fight-or-flight reactions
• 37:25 – De-escalating sensory meltdowns and rages through tactile input
• 39:35 – The neurological impact of music, rhythm, and auditory environments
• 42:45 – Closing reflections & how to connect with Toni

Connect with Toni Hager

• Email: [email protected]

COMING SOON! The launch of Patti’s second book, made possible by this very podcast – 4D Living with FASD: Shared Voices, Clearer Understanding launches Sept 9, and its companion study guide, Discover Your 4D Life: The FASD Living Experience will launch shortly thereafter! Both will be available at Patti’s online store at books.by/yourfasdcoach as well as Amazon and your local bookseller.

In this week's deeply personal and eye-opening episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper welcomes back Dr. Kristina Uban, director of the Developing Brains Laboratory at UC Irvine. After two and a half years, Dr. Uban returns to explore a topic rarely discussed in the context of neurodivergence: the reality of marriage, long-term relationships, and significant partnerships when navigating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Together, Patti and Kristina unpack the intersection of personal experience and academic research, challenging historical research stigmas, discussing the invisible load of complex medical comorbidities, and reframing the unique "wildflower intelligence" that comes with an FASD diagnosis.

Key Discussion Points:

• Bridging the Academic and Personal: How Kristina’s professional world in neuroimaging collided with her personal life, reshaping her understanding of historical research pools and the narrow narratives surrounding FASD.
• The Realities of Marriage with FASD: Examining the unique relational pressures caused by financial strain, medical trauma, chronic illness, and the need for deep foundational trust.
• The "Car Breakdown" Analogy: A powerful framework for understanding when a partner's behavior is driven by burnout or a neurodivergent "breakdown" rather than personal malice.
• Moving Past Shame and Stigma: Embracing vulnerability, walking straight through social stigma, and finding resilience, authenticity, and leadership within the FASD community.

As always, if you enjoyed today’s episode, Invisible Disabilities & Workplace Discrimination: Challenging the System with Julie Harris, then please remember to like, subscribe and share this podcast episode, because the more it is shared, the more people can find Living with FASD and learn more about the many and varied effects of Prenatal Alcohol Effects.

If you would like to reach Kristina, please email her at [email protected]

If you want to reach Patti to discuss either FASD training or life coaching, you can schedule a call using this links: https://calendly.com/kaspertrainingandcoaching/consultation . Additional training topics can be found on her website, www.patriciakasper.com . You can also email Patti at [email protected]

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In this episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper is joined by Brett Williams from the Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan (LDAS). Together, they explore the complexities of non-apparent disabilities, late-in-life neurodivergent diagnoses, and the phenomenon of "diagnostic overshadowing"—where a single label can obscure an individual’s full spectrum of strengths and needs.

From unpacking why "no pattern is the pattern" in FASD cognitive testing to rethinking accommodations in the workplace and classroom, Patti and Brett share a candid, compassionate, and humorous conversation on moving away from individual blame and toward true interdependence.

📚 Special Book Announcement & Teaser

Mark your calendars for International FASD Awareness Day!

Patti Kasper’s upcoming book, 4D Living with FASD: Shared Voices, Clearer Understanding, officially launches on September 9th.

Grounded in qualitative research and lived experience, this book brings together real voices from the FASD community to shift paradigms, break down stigma, and build genuine understanding.

📖 Available September 9th at books.by/yourfasdcoach, Amazon, or

your favorite local bookseller!

💡 Key Takeaways & Discussion Highlights

• Diagnostic Overshadowing: How focusing solely on a single diagnosis can blind us to an individual’s unique cognitive profile and strengths.
• "No Pattern is the Pattern": Why traditional, uniform testing patterns don't always fit neurodevelopmental conditions like FASD, and how scattered test results should be interpreted.
• The High Cost of Masking: Understanding the cognitive and metabolic energy tax that neurodivergent individuals pay to perform and "showtime" in daily life.
• Shift to Interdependence: Challenging the hyper-focus on absolute self-sufficiency and embracing social connectedness and mutual support.
• Preventative Accommodations: How simple, zero-cost support—like the gift of extra processing time—benefits entire organizations, schools, and communities.

🎙️ About Our Guest

Brett Williams (he/him) is the Director of Program Service Delivery for the Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan (LDAS). He has professional experience providing mental health counseling and consultation across the education, health, community, and private sectors. Brett has personal experience receiving mental health services, and is grateful to have a wonderful wife, a dynamic daughter, and a multitude of imaginary friends.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned

• Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan (LDAS): ldas.org

When we talk about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), the conversation often centers around childhood behaviors or brain function. But what happens as we age with FASD? How does early exposure impact the rest of the body, from our immune system to our joints and digestive health?

In this episode, Patti Kasper sits down with Dr. Tamara Bodner, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, to break down the latest research on adult FASD outcomes, whole-body health, and aging. From her early preclinical work with legendary FASD researcher Dr. Joanne Weinberg to her current clinical studies in Calgary, Dr. Bodner shares crucial insights into how FASD manifests across the lifespan.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• From the Lab to the Lived Experience: How a simple question at a conference shifted Dr. Bodner’s focus from animal models to human clinical health.
• The Prevalence Gap: Why FASD remains underdiagnosed and misunderstood despite impacting 1 in 12 to 1 in 20 people across North America.
• Autoimmune & Inflammation: The connection between FASD, elevated inflammatory markers (cytokines), and early symptoms of autoimmune challenges.
• Aging & Dementia Questions: What the data actually reveals about brain biomarkers, cognitive decline, and why one-size-fits-all diagnostic tools don't always fit FASD.
• The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis: Emerging research on the gut microbiome in FASD and how modifiable lifestyle factors (diet, sleep, mobility) foster resilience.
• Participating in Research: How adults with lived experience in both the U.S. and Canada can get involved in ongoing studies.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Dr. Tamara Bodner’s Lab (University of Calgary): Search Tamara Bodner University of Calgary to explore active studies and research updates.
• Books Mentioned: Sip by Sip by Patti Kasper (https://books.by/yourfasdcoach)

Connect & Follow:

• Website: patriciakasper.com
• Work With Patti:  https://calendly.com/kaspertrainingandcoaching/introductory-chat-with-patti . Email her at [email protected]
• Subscribe & Share: If this episode gave you clarity or hope, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or share this video with a friend or colleague!