Planning Your First Visit
We want your interactions with the Manitoba FASD Network to be stress-free and easy to understand. Here are the basic steps involved when planning your first visit to one of the Manitoba FASD Network locations:
1. Prior to Visiting
Before your visit, a referral is made by a family doctor, paediatrician, community agency, or you may have self-referred.
2. Our Regional Diagnostic Coordinator will connect with you
The FASD Diagnostic Coordinator will be in touch with you to discuss the referral.
3. Forms to Bring Along
Caregivers and the school will fill out forms that identify the child’s strengths and challenges. The coordinator can help. This information helps during the FASD assessment.
4. First Meeting
You and your child will meet one or more of our psychologists, speech language pathologists and/or occupational therapists in a FASD regional office closest to you.
5. The Assessment
Your child will take part in a few assessment exercises and activities. Some are fun games, and others are more like conversations. During this time, specialists will evaluate behaviours, attention, memory, language, motor skills, sensory and other skills.
6. A medical appointment is set up
You and your child will meet with a doctor and the coordinator. The doctor will talk with you about your current concerns, child’s history, feelings, school experiences, friends and daily activities. Your child or teenager will also be seen by the doctor for a physical assessment and a developmental assessment or interview. The doctor will review previous information gathered and may further evaluate developmental skills, language skills, problem solving and motor skills.
7. Getting the assessment results
After all of these appointments, an FASD diagnosis may result, and in some cases other diagnosis may be provided. Either way, the results will be reviewed with you, and recommendations will be made to benefit your child. If you have questions, contact usContact Us anytime.
8. Follow-up and Support
A follow-up may be recommended to ensure you have the support you and your child need to move forward. You can also take part in our Building Circles of Support program or become a part of our FASD Family Network.