#42 Beyond Awareness: Becoming FASD Informed with Emma McDougall#42 Beyond Awareness: Becoming FASD Informed with Emma McDougall
Pregnancy and Alcohol: The Surprising Reality
Host Kurt Lewis talks with occupational therapist Emma McDougall about what it means to be truly FASD informed, moving beyond awareness to practical, person-centred support. The conversation covers strengths-based and brain-based approaches, NDIS reporting and the crucial role of lived experience in shaping better care.
31:25•15 Sept 2026
Beyond Awareness: What It Really Means To Be FASD Informed
Episode Overview
- Being FASD informed means understanding FASD as a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability and how it affects daily life, not just knowing the diagnosis.
- A strengths-based approach uses what a person enjoys and does well as the foundation for effective, sustainable support.
- A brain-based lens shifts thinking from "they won't" to "why can't they?", reducing blame and focusing on the brain differences behind behaviour.
- Strong NDIS reports clearly link the FASD diagnosis and specific brain domains to functional challenges and support needs across settings.
- Listening to lived experience from individuals and families is essential, shaping practice as much as formal training and helping professionals advocate effectively.
“"We can change the environment to work for them, rather than making them change for the environment."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety when alcohol has already affected the next generation? This conversation zooms in on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and what it truly means to be more than just aware of it. Host Kurt Lewis chats with occupational therapist and NOFASD Australia clinical advisor Emma McDougall, who shares how her interest in FASD grew from a few trainings into a full commitment to understanding it in depth.
She explains that being "FASD informed" goes far beyond knowing the label or a list of symptoms. For Emma, it means recognising FASD as a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability and asking, as she puts it, not "they won't" but "why can't they?". You’ll hear Emma break down the importance of a strengths-based and brain-based approach.
Instead of focusing only on what’s hard, she highlights why understanding what a person enjoys and does well is crucial: "Strengths are often the key to success." She also stresses that you can’t change FASD, but, as she says, "We can change the environment to work for them, rather than making them change for the environment." The episode is especially useful for clinicians, support workers and carers who feel lost in systems like the NDIS.
Emma offers practical tips on writing reports that properly link a FASD diagnosis to everyday functional challenges, and she underlines how vital it is to listen to lived experience. For her, some of the most valuable lessons have come directly from families and people with FASD, shaping her practice as much as formal study.
Anyone wanting to support children, young people or adults affected by prenatal alcohol exposure will find clear language, practical examples and plenty of encouragement to keep learning. It might leave you asking: are you just aware of FASD, or are you ready to be truly FASD informed?
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