OT: Help! Giving speech on Wednesday (FAS)

I am giving a speech on Wednesday about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and I have a rough draft I was hoping for some help! I can only speak for about five minutes, so it has to be short and sweet, and I want to keep it simple so it will be understandable. But, I want to make sure I include important details. If there is anyone here who knows about FAS, your suggestions will be helpful! Also, for the public in general, please let me know how effective you think it is. My speech is below (I am going to show a photo of my girls where it is indicated) Thanks! Tammy About six years ago, a woman with alcoholism became pregnant. She chose to keep drinking, consuming massive amounts of alcohol each and every day. She went into premature labor at only seven months along, and gave birth to a very tiny, sick baby girl. This child was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. She has microcephaly, which is a small head circumference, and she has brain damage, which has caused many learning disabilities. Somehow, the birthmother slipped through the cracks and was allowed to take the baby home, where the infant was ignored and starved for long periods of time while the mother was drunk and high. Just a few months later, the woman gave birth to yet another baby girl, who was just as tiny and sickly as the first, also with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This time, however, the authorities were alerted and the Department of Human Services intervened, taking custody of the two babies. At the time, the first baby was not quite a year old, and weighed only twelve pounds. The second baby was two weeks old, and weighed three pounds. They were taken to a hospital where they received the medical attention they needed, and later, were adopted together. Show picture of Nicole and Lizzy These are the two babies now... My husband and I adopted them, and we help them live with FAS on a daily basis. The March of Dimes defines Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as a combination of physical and mental birth defects of babies born to women who consume excessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.[1] According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who give birth to children with fetal alcohol syndrome are usually alcoholics who smoke, use illegal drugs, are usually malnourished, and do not receive the correct medical care required for a healthy pregnancy, all of which contribute to the disease.[2] Children born with FAS tend to have many developmental delays, learning disabilities, ADHD, and physical defects that can be fatal. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States and is a lifelong condition. There is no cure. Prevention of FAS is quite simple. If you are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant, don't drink. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] March of Dimes, www.modimes.com, July 26, 2004. [2] Sokol, R. J. , V. Delaney-Black, and B. Nordstrom. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Vol. 290, Issue 22, Dec. 10, 2003. Journal of the American Medical Association.

Julia, I am a writer, and I write speeches for a living. It is good, but I would include some more numbers -- the number of FAS babies born every year, the cost of care for these infants, the average life span, that sort of thing. Of course, a lot depends on your audience, and what you want your 'call to action' do be. Do you want them to not drink? To donate money or time? Or just to be more educated about FAS? All this would influence how you approach the issue. Good luck!

Wow! Thanks, Lee, for your insight. I will revamp it to include some more information of the type you suggested. Thanks!!!!

Hi Julia, I think your speech is pretty good. I'm not a speech writer, nor do I speak in public if I can avoid it. I commend you on this effort. I adopted my daughter 6.5 years ago as a single parent. As she was born in Russia and we have no credible information about her birth mother, we cannot be sure, however her neurologist has diagnosed her with Fetal Alcohol Effect due to some facial attributes and her learning disabilities. She has also been diagnosed with ADHD. When I first got my daughter she was 2 weeks shy of her first birthday - she was 12 lbs and could not sit up by herself. She was also addicted to caffiene. She has come a long way, as I'm sure your daughters have. Love and caring can overcome so much. Unfortunately there are some issues that, as you said, will be lifelong struggles. Thankyou for sharing your story. It's such an important message that so many woman don't understand. Marla

Wow, Marla, we have something besides WLS in common -- our children's condition. My girls are from right here in the US, and they are African American. And yes, they have come a LONG way!! But, they still have a way to go, and it will be difficult for them. Thanks for sharing!!

What a great story! Why don't you give us an update as to how your speech was received? Joy -54