FASD Hope is a podcast series about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) through the lens of parent advocates with over eighteen years of lived experience.
On this 17th episode of FASD Hope, Natalie Vecchione (Podcast Host) is privileged to have an EXCLUSIVE interview with Justin Shepherd (Director) and Kristina Uban (Executive Producer) of "The FASD Project".
Justin and Kristina fell in love in Colorado, where they were married. They lived along the West Coast from Vancouver, Canada down to Los Angeles, CA. In California, they started their family and pursued their careers... Justin as a Performing Artist and Kristina as a Developmental Neuroscientist focused on FASD. Working with the nonprofit "FASD Communities" (which provides 4 young women, with an FASD, a forever home to live independently from family), Justin and Kristina were asked to amplify their FASD Movement through a film about FASD. When the COVID19 Pandemic struck, they learned about the 41% increase in maternal drinking in 2020 and the future spike in FASD incidence and severity among babies to be born in 2021-2022 - that would result from this side effect of the pandemic in the US. Justin immediately decided that the FASD film had to be made and disseminated now to help prevent this from happening. Justin and his brother formed a crew of two and hit the road from November 3rd - November 15th to interview individuals with an FASD, their caregivers and professionals around the US. Supported by a powerful team of pro bono producers, the road trip was a massive success and The FASD Project pilot film is now in post-production.
In this hope-filled conversation, Natalie speaks with Justin and Kristina about the following topics:
- How they both became involved in the FASD community
- The development of FASD Project
- Why it was SO important to film "The FASD Project" during a Global Pandemic (and traveling cross- country in an RV during a Global Pandemic)
- Reflections on filming a variety of members in the FASD community
- The post-production status of "The FASD Project"
- Words of hope for those in the FASD community
RESOURCES -
www.thefasdproject.com
www.thefasdproject.org/donate
info@thefasdproject.com
Instagram - @thefasdproject
Facebook - @theFASDproject
Twitter - @theFASDproject
FASD Hope -
http://www.fasdhope.com
Instagram - @fasdhope
Facebook - @fasdhope1
Pinterest - @fasdhope1
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