One of the best parts of my job is talking to all the caregivers who have such a wide range of experience and offer so much practical information to help others on the journey. Natalie Vecchione is one of those.
She and her husband are parents to a 5-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son (with FASD). She has been a Board-Certified Music Therapist for 25 years and began homeschooling six years ago. She and John are co-founders of FASD Hope and recently began a new adventure in the world of podcasting. They live in the farm country of North Carolina.
Her journey to a diagnosis for her son when he was 15 was a rocky one like so many of our listeners have been down. We talk about that journey to get the diagnosis and how when she and her husband brought up FASD as a possibility she was dismissed.
“Anytime it would be, nope, that’s not it. Because so many practitioners were under the impression that you had to have a facial characteristic and you have to have all of these symptoms, which our son did not.”
We know less than 10% of individuals have those facial features. Interestingly enough her son was eventually diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. We discuss that long road, what her son is doing now, as well as:
“If you embrace that okay this is brain-based and that you can focus on strengths and you meet them where they are, you can do this!”
I love sharing resources and we can lean on and learn from each other. I love that she used her spark to create a bonfire of change. In fact, she has created her own podcast, FASD Hope. She shares what her goals are with it, including amplifying the voice of dads and male role models and caregivers. So get your pen and paper or notes app ready … this episode has lots of great practical information.
Show Notes:
Website: FASD Hope
Email: fasdhope1@gmail.com
Facebook & Pinterest: @fasdhope1
Instagram: @fasdhope
Other:
Outschool.com
Josh’s Hope Foundation
Books:
Not exactly as planned, Linda Rosenbaum
If you’d like a PDF of Making Sense of the Madness, An FASD Survival Guide all you have to do is join my mailing list! Welcome to the Team otherwise, it is available for purchase, along with my FASD Sound Bites and Sanity Savers: A catalogue of collective wisdom and things that make you go 'hmmm' on your local Amazon site.
Support the Show.
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Episode #149: The Alex Duthie Episode
#148 Discover the Impact: Transforming FASD with Peer Mentorship
Episode #147: Legal Lifelines: Advocating for FASD in the Justice System
Episode #146: Navigating the Swear Storms: Understanding FASD and Swearing
Episode #145: The Shout-Out Special: Celebrating FASD Wins!
Episode #144: Unlocking Growth: How the FASD Brain Evolves and Why Your Efforts Matter
Episode #143: Making Waves: A Step-by-Step Guide to Igniting FASD Advocacy in Your City
Episode #142: Amanda Burley - How to Make and Keep Friends with FASD
Episode #141 Discover A New Mental Health Tool with Emma Jewell.
Episode #140: Audrey McFarlane – Pioneering Progress in FASD
Episode #139: How FASD Coaching Can Unlock Breakthroughs with Behaviors
Episode #138 Unlearning to Reconnect: Stacia Stribling's FASD Caregiving Journey from Professor to Not for Profit.
#137 Burnout to Breakthrough: Angela's Journey of FASD Hope
#136 Too Cool for School: The No-BS Guide to Getting Educators on Your Side
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