2026 Education and FASD International Conference
• Oct 23, 2026
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Maladaptive Neuroplasticity: Causes, Neurodevelopmental Consequences, and Evidence-Informed Solutions
12:00PM to
1:20PM PDT
/ 80min
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. It can impact brain development, learning, behavior, and adaptive functioning.
Alcohol exposure during critical periods of brain development can influence:
- Neural pathways
- Executive functioning
- Attention
- Memory
- Sensory regulation
- Information processing
- Self-management
- Social learning
- Academic performance
This training provides educators with an evidence-informed understanding of how prenatal alcohol exposure affects neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to learn, adapt, and reorganize throughout life. It uses a neuroplasticity framework to examine how students with FASD and other neurodivergent conditions may experience differences in learning, emotional regulation, communication, behavior, and skill development.
The training emphasizes shifting from behavior-based interpretations of student challenges toward a brain-based understanding of how FASD affects cognition, adaptive skills, and classroom functioning. While FASD involves lasting changes to the developing brain, ongoing capacity for learning and adaptation remains. Educators will:
- Learn how intentional, individualized, and consistent supports can leverage neuroplasticity to strengthen academic engagement, independence, skill development, and quality of life
- Examine integrated current research from neuroscience, behavioral health, psychogastroenterology, lifestyle medicine, nutritional neuroscience, and related interdisciplinary fields
- Learn about evidence-informed strategies to develop strengths-based approaches to support students with FASD and promote meaningful learning and long-term success