We wanted to follow up last weeks episode on FASD Training with something a little more personal.  Today we're chatting with two FASD Self Advocates and getting a first hand look through the FASD lens.  We also have a surprise guest on the show, so join us to find out who!!Emily was born in Baltimore City, MD on April 21,1988. She was born to an alcoholic. Due to the face her mom was intoxicated while giving birth also, Emily had to stay in for detox. Emily has an FASD diagnosis of ARND (alcohol related neuro-developmental disorder). She struggles with speech, has a learning disability in reading/writing and math. At the age of 18 moths she was adopted.  Then after the age of 13 Emily moved around from the foster care homes to residential treatment centers and mental hospitals.  Now at the age of 32, Emily supports children with Autism through ABA therapy. She is also a wife and mother of two boys.Helen Simpson is an adult advocate living in Portland, Oregon with her son, William and husband, Brando. She was diagnosed with FASD and ARND at 11 years old. Helen has learned a lot about her diagnosis and has made it her mission to provide support, hope, courage, and first hand experiences to the FASD community. Helen has written and published two children's books about FASD titled "The Way I am is Different" and "Be Different, Dare to Be." Helen has travelled across the United States to speak at conferences, while also working full time at a non-profit in Newberg. After attending one of FASCETS workshops and being invited to speak, she was invited to join the FASCETS Board of Directors, where she provided input from an individual’s perspective while also being the secretary. Helen is  a major supporter of the Neurobehavioral Model. Helen's greatest accomplishment is the journey of motherhood to her beautiful son. Helen's son was the first born in generations to break the cycle of addiction. He was born drug and alcohol free! Helen believes in passion and purpose and shining your light for the world to see.HOW YOU CAN REACH THEM:Website: www.lovemeenough.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovemefasd/Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/helensimpson89Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/love_meenough/

I'm so honored to be talking with our FIRST guest on the show!!Aubrey Page is an FASD educator, FASD advocate, and parent mentor out of Ohio. After learning that foster kids are 17 to 19 times more likely to have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the US, she started advocating for the hundreds of thousands of children with the symptoms. Her lived experience brings a unique perspective to her trainings. She runs a weekly support group and is working on legislative efforts to bring more services to individuals on the spectrum.Aubrey [email protected] @aubreypagefasd for IG/FB/Twitter/PinterestSpecific links are: www.instagram.com/aubreypagefasdwww.facebook.com/aubreypagefasdwww.twitter.com/aubreypagefasdwww.pinterest.com/aubreypagefasd Follow us on IG/FB @youareherpodcast

Four years ago our lives changed, this was not for the worst, but it took awhile to digest, understand, grieve and more. My daughter has FASD but we didn't know until she was 10 years old and this is my original writing of our story from 2 years ago.  I hope that you come to this episode with kindness and an open mind/heart. This episode took me many recordings as it still to this day (and always will be) one of the most emotional story I tell.  I want to be transparent with you all. This is an edited episode, pieced together between tears and pulls on my heart. Find Melissa on Instagram:@ms.melissajanFollow the podcast on Instagram:@youareherpodcast

Welcome to the brand new You Are Her Podcast, hosted by Melissa Jan. Creator of @ms.melissajan and @youareherpodcast, Melissa is taking this step to connect with others on this new podcast platform.  Melissa will be sharing her journey in a very vulnerable way that she’s never done before. She’ll be talking with a variety of people and would love your support in starting this new venture.The You Are Her Podcast is a weekly show where your host, Melissa Jan, brings you the real, the raw and the anything in between. Are you ready? This is where we fumble, we fall, we struggle, we work towards getting back up, we connect with others, we advocate, and over all, we do the human things.Find Melissa on Instagram:@ms.melissajanFollow the podcast on Instagram:@youareherpodcast