Aubrey Page, FASD Educator

Have you ever had something happen that was so miraculous that you wanted to keep it to yourself? I haven’t told you all about this for months because I just wanted it to be a private love note from God to me.

We recently bought a house built in 1898 that had been used as a rental property for at least 50 years. So many tenants created quite an accumulation of stuff in the basement. We worked hard to get rid of as much as we could.

Seeing things through my children’s eyes is fascinating and one of my kids was convinced that yellowed, vintage copies of The Cincinnati would be valuable to someone. So when I saw this page from 1979, I thought I’d show them the value of products back then and flipped the page to find an ad.

Then my blood ran cold.

My kid yelled “dad, come here!!”

Of all of the newspapers that the Enquirer has ever printed, I doubt the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure are mentioned 5 times. But here is an article from 42 years ago in my hands on the very topic that I specialize in. A VERY niche field.

After taking such a leap of faith with the cost of this house and the amount of work it needed, this article was all the confirmation I needed that my family would thrive here. My business would grow here. We would host people who would be forever changed by our time together. The history of this house has all been leading up to us buying it and creating a home for us and all of the people we welcome to stay here.

Stay tuned for renovation updates!

Do you ever think about all the ways your kids changed your life for the better? All of the perspective shifts that you’ve had in advocating for them? All of the people you’ve met in the process of seeing the world through their eyes? All of the experiences you would have never considered undertaking if not for them?

Recently we decided that our current house no longer serves our family. Our kids have changed over the last few years and we were trying to squeeze as much as we could out of this house.

But finding a new house in this market is not easy. We told our agent and they asked what we were looking for. We weren’t really sure. It took a lot of MLS listings for us to realize we wanted a multi-family. A place the kids could stay into adulthood. But I told Nelson we would never find the floor plan we need in an old house. We would have to build, but we’ve always dreamed of living in a walkable community.

So imagine my surprise when we went to look at a for sale by owner house that had been divided up over the years. The floor plan could not be more perfect for us if I designed it myself…and yet this house was built 124 years ago.

Imagine the hundreds of people who lived here over the years and here we are in 2022 knowing this is a place our family can feel comfortable for years to come.

The thing is…it needed a lot of work. A LOT. So we’ve spent months reinvigorating our renovation skills. This will be our fourth house we’ve done major work on, but, by far, the biggest project. We are so glad to be partnering with our General Contractor, Shelley, of and Natasha, principal designer at .

We are learning so much about how houses 100 years ago were built to LAST. This house has rejuvenated our family and given us a vision and hope. And it’s all thanks to our kids pushing us outside of our comfort zone.

Stick around if you want to follow our journey and follow the hashtag ! We will be sharing historic info, renovation hacks, and how we are helping this house fit our neurodiverse family!

Last year was my first opportunity to apply for conferences. I applied to many and got accepted to some really exciting events. But after COVID, every event got cancelled. This year I decided to not apply to many conferences for fear of the same thing. I only applied to conferences that someone asked me to apply to.

Last week I participated on a panel at the CAFO conferences with some awesome FASD advocates like , of , and . It was a great reminder of how much I love teaching in person and how many awesome FASD advocates there are.

So this week I started with an in person training, a virtual conference, and an in person conference. And whew! I love teaching, but also I need a nap.

Every time I teach I remind myself that the people I teach can have ripple effects in their own circles of influence. My one training can affect so much more than my students.

✨Tell me in the comments how attending a training on FASD changed you.✨

Be sure to take my FASD Parent Bundle now to be ready for our next round of FASD advocacy training in early 2022. The bundle is 20% off through the end of September with the code SEP21. Link in bio or over at

You would be lucky to have a friend with an FASD. Thanks for lunch, Rebecca!

Listen guys. When you advocate about everything all day, it gets exhausting when no movement happens. But this year, for FASD Awareness Day y’all SHOWED UP! I’m so impressed! The impact we made this year was SO much larger than last year and it has been such a healthy discussion. Decreasing the stigma around FASD is critical to changing the system surrounding individuals with FASD. And you guys get it!

What a cool list Natalie put together! Go follow these people!

T H U R S D A Y T H O U G H T S

Today is September 9, 2021….International FASD Awareness Day!

Do you want to make a difference today? Here are some thoughts:

- Visit FASD Hope on Instagram and watch yesterday’s IGTV interview with Alex Tripp✨on our FASD Hope IGTV FASD Hope Series. Alex gives some simple, yet impactful ways you can advocate for FASD!

- Want to make a difference AND get some exercise? Consider joining the Run FASD Virtual 5K! Listen to this week’s Episode 80 to learn more & sign up for this AWESOME event in the below link. FASD Hope is PROUD to be a gold level sponsor for the !

https://nofaspolicycenter.org/run-fasd/

- Visit the below FB pages for some GREAT advocating tips & ideas..

Here are a few to visit….

AlexT FASD Awareness & Advocacy
The Change Starts Here Collaborative
Diversely Designed
Indiana NOFAS, Inc
Robbie Seale at FASD Family Life
Podcast
Oshay’s Fasd
Red Shoes Rock. FASD Aware.
Eileen Devine - Neurobehavioral Therapist & Coach for Parents
The FASD Project
Western Slope FASD Community
Kansas FASD Support Network
Hawaiifasd
Nevada Families for FASD Awareness
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)
Proof Alliance
Canada FASD Research Network
North Texas FASD
FASD Network of Southern California
Illinois FASD Center
Spotlight on FASD
NOFAS Alabama
Doublearc Center for FASD
Fasd HubScot
FASD Network of Saskatchewan
FASD New Hampshire - Nat'l Organization Fetal Alcohol Syndrome NH - nofasnh
West Texas FASD Network
FASD NL Network
SEAFAN FASD Network
Lakeland Centre for FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)
Dream Catcher Meadows
F.A.F.A.S.D. (Families Affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)
Aubrey Page, FASD Educator
Michael Harris, MA, LP - FASD Coaching
My Kiddos Advocate
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Consultation, Education and Training Services
His Momma FASD
Justice For Orphans
NC FASD Informed
Tammy At Central Fasd
FASD Caregiver Success
The Papillion Center
Dougherty Dozen
Ontario FASD Action Network
RUN FASD
our sacred breath
Dreamcatcher Meadows Inc.
National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Australia
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Ottawa
Fetal Alcohol Awareness of Jacksonville
Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network
U of MN FASD Research Lab

Please let us know if we forgot anyone…we’ll update this list throughout the day. We want to showcase the TREMENDOUS creativity and advocacy efforts of these individuals, groups and organizations in the ! Have a productive and amazing day…. and advocate!

I can't wait to chat with you! I asked if you'd want some 1:1 time with me and you said yes. We've been working behind the scenes on how to make it easier for you to connect with me and it's finally ready! We are SO excited about it that the first 9 people to sign up for a 1:1 with me will receive 50% off!! Wow! Just use code SEP2021 and it will automatically be applied if it hasn't already been used 9 times.

What can we chat about?
✨ Strategies for supporting a child with trauma or another brain-based disability at home and school.
✨ Ideas on how to approach an FASD diagnosis.
✨ Tips on how to get a good accommodations/goals in an IEP.
✨ Advice navigating the foster care system.
✨ Insight on older waiting child adoption.
✨ Coaching on how to advocate for FASD in your community.

Have another idea on what we could talk about? Message me and I'll tell you if I feel it fits within my realm of expertise. Otherwise, book via the link below But ACT NOW because there are only so many of those 50% off coupons.

I will continue to be available for coaching during our Facebook group's FREE strategy sessions. Those are held a couple times a month.

Book Here: https://www.thecshcollab.com/aubrey1to1

I would love to help you spread the word about FASD! Click on the link below to be able to download a FREE one pager that is made to focus on your geographic area and teach about FASD. There is a page for the US, UK, Canada, and even my state of Ohio!
https://www.thecshcollab.com/pl/2147526218

September is FASD Awareness Month! Let's work together to spread the word of this very COMMON disability. FASD is important to me because I see so many systems that impact FASD and rarely do I see a system catering to this population.

Check out all of the advocacy tools created by The Change Starts Here Collaborative, including these graphics here: https://www.thecshcollab.com/fasdadvocacy