Every September, the FASD community comes together with renewed energy to raise awareness, advocate for change, and support people living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and their families.

This year, FASD United is inviting all of us to think differently about how we talk about FASD.

The theme for FASD Awareness Month 2026 is “FASD is an AND Conversation.”

It’s a simple idea with important implications: When we talk about FASD, we should talk about “FASD &” rather than “FASD or.”

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a group of diagnosable medical conditions that can occur following prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD is a lifelong condition, and its effects can include learning disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory issues, and physical health concerns, including heart defects and hearing or visual impairments.

As many as 1 in 20 Americans live with FASD.

But FASD does not exist in a vacuum.

A person can experience FASD and mental health challenges. FASD and neurodiversity. FASD and disability. FASD and challenges accessing healthcare. FASD and systems that were not designed to recognize or respond to their needs.

That’s why FASD United is encouraging us to move away from either/or questions and toward “AND” conversations.

Instead of asking, “Is it FASD or mental health?” we can ask, “How do FASD and mental health intersect?”

Instead of treating FASD and disability as separate conversations, we can recognize that FASD and disability are connected.

And instead of viewing FASD through a single lens, we can recognize the complexity and individuality of the people and families impacted by it.

FASD is a wide spectrum, and every person’s experience is unique. Having more complete, nuanced conversations can help us better understand those experiences and help create more supportive communities and systems.

As the Colorado affiliate of FASD United, Illuminate Colorado is proud to help bring this conversation to communities across our state.

Our work focuses on strengthening families, organizations, and communities to prevent child maltreatment. And we work hard to create the conditions where every child and family can thrive. That includes recognizing the many factors that shape family well-being and working alongside partners to build more responsive and supportive systems.

FASD is an important part of that work.

Creating greater understanding of FASD can help families find support, help professionals respond more effectively, and help communities move beyond stigma and toward greater understanding.

The “AND” conversation is an invitation to see those connections more clearly.

FASD & healthcare. FASD & education. FASD & disability. FASD & mental health. FASD & policy. FASD & family support.

These conversations are connected and each one gives us another opportunity to better support people living with FASD and their families.

Awareness is an important first step, but knowing where to turn for information and support matters, too.

Illuminate Colorado has gathered FASD resources for Colorado families, caregivers, professionals, and communities in one place. Our FASD resource page is designed to make it easier to find trusted information, learn more about FASD, and connect with support.

These resources are part of Illuminate’s commitment to increasing understanding of FASD through education, shared learning, and access to trusted resources—while approaching this work with compassion and without stigma.

FASD Awareness Month is an opportunity not only to learn, but to take action.

FASD United has created a collection of resources to help individuals, families, professionals, organizations, and communities join the movement.

Start with language

The words we use matter.

FASD United’s Language and Stigma Guide offers guidance for using accurate, respectful, and strengths-based language when talking about FASD. The guide centers the dignity of individuals with FASD, their families, and birth parents while encouraging conversations grounded in evidence rather than blame.

Hear from and support self-advocates

The FASD Self-Advocate Guide is designed to help people with prenatal alcohol exposure better understand themselves and their experiences with FASD.

Its message is simple: work with yourself, not against yourself.

The interactive guide is an empowering resource for recognizing strengths, understanding experiences, and building greater self-awareness.

Share the message

FASD United’s 2026 FASD Awareness Month Toolkit includes resources that individuals and organizations can use throughout September, including:

• • Information about this year’s “FASD is an AND Conversation” theme
  • Ready-to-use social media content and downloads
  • Inclusive language resources
  • A sample press release
  • Zoom backgrounds
  • Awareness Month proclamation resources
  • Fact sheets
  • And more!

Whether you’re sharing a post, educating your colleagues, talking with your community, or simply learning more yourself, these resources make it easier to be part of the conversation.

We invite you to join us in making FASD an AND conversation. Because understanding FASD means understanding the many people, experiences, systems, and communities connected to it.

This September, let’s keep the conversation going.

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