The FASD Success Show
Jeff Noble thought he knew all about FASD... until he became a full time FASD Foster Parent. Fast forward to now. Jeff has been coast to coast and from one side of the earth to the other talking, teaching and learning about FASD with other Caregivers, Front Line Staff and anyone who might sit and listen to him. In The FASD SUCCESS SHOW, Jeff and his gang of FASD Insiders will talk about FASD in a real way so that you can learn how to deal and cope with FASD in REAL life, to be a better advocate and a more confident caregiver. Jeff is going to tackle all the hot topics like FASD and aggression, sleep, hygiene, the education system, meltdowns and working with professionals. Pretty much all the things you need to know so that you can focus on being a happy, balanced caregiver. Jeff will make you laugh, he will make you think, but mostly he will give you hope that you CAN do this. Hit subscribe and get ready to transform into the FASD Caregiver you know you can be.
The FASD Success Show
#029 Ali McCormick: FASD Service (Dogs) with a Smile
What a fun episode this is - because come on - who doesn’t love dogs - especially assistance dogs who help individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Ali McCormick has gone from dog trainer to Foster Carer to FASD Caregiver to Social Worker to Assistance Dog Trainer. And what a wild ride it’s been for her and her family.
Ali, like most of our caregivers and professionals, learned about FASD after she adopted her daughter Jane, who came from an adoption breakdown. Eventually, she and her husband adopted Jane’s two siblings, all with FAS. She has fostered 36 children and raised 4 children but nothing prepared her for the journey she was about to embark on with the sibling trio.
It’s much easier for those that should know, to blame the parents, then it is to look at the failed system and their lack of education.
We talk about:
- her journey to become a social worker to try and change the system - but found herself frustrated with the ongoing battle for services;
- how she had to throw out the playbook on raising children once she adopted the sibling group and what it felt like to have authorities tell her it’s all her fault; and
- along the way, her love of animals led her to start FASD Dogs UK after seeing the positive and calming effects her dogs had on her children.
I do it because I believe in what I do. It has far exceeded anything that I thought would be successful. There is a quality of relationship that a dog brings to children. Parents tell us, she has never had a friend. Now she does.
All of the things she went through, including having to uproot her family, their anchors, and services and move a hundred miles away for safety, having lost a grandchild to a permanency placement, and having her own adopted children put on child protection, she has kept her determination and sense of humour. It also shows a passion to provide service and support to the children and families who are often forgotten by the system.
So if you’ve ever wondered what makes a great assistance dog and what goes into training a dog, join us for this entertaining podcast.