2026 Education and FASD International Conference • Oct 23, 2026

What the FASD National Education Survey Has Taught Us Over 10 Years

12:45PM to 1:25PM PDT / 40min

Navigating the K-12 educational system remains a challenge for many students with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and their families. Drawing on ten years of FASD National Education Survey data, this presentation will discuss the barriers students with FASD and their caregivers face when trying to receive appropriate FASD-informed services and support in the classroom as well as the lack of FASD-specific knowledge and training received by educators and administrators.

Our findings demonstrate that over the past decade, little progress has been made in bridging the gap between family needs and professional preparation. This leads to frustration on all sides, poor educational outcomes for people with FASD, and a lack of preparation for post-secondary life. We will discuss data trends and how they can inform policy and systems change at the state and national level. Special attention will be paid to how the inclusion of FASD as a named condition or qualifying category under IDEA could help to support students, families, and professionals.