Katherine Flannigan

• PhD
• Research Associate at Canada FASD Research Network

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disability characterized by a range of brain- and body-based difficulties which, when left unsupported, can lead to experiences of significant adversity across the lifespan. Caregivers of individuals with FASD play a critical role in advocating and supporting healthy outcomes fo...

Based on the most current research, the estimated prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the general North American population is at least 8%. However, rates of FASD are believed to be higher in certain groups. Examining the varying rates of FASD across different groups is critical to understand the demographic, social, geographica...

Since fetal alcohol syndrome was first defined in North America in the 1970s, researchers have been working to determine prevalence rates of the disability. Now referred to in Canada as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), the social, health, and economic impacts of FASD for families and communities are profound, thus understanding its scope is...

Background Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience complex needs that often necessitate support from multiple systems. There is growing evidence that people with FASD may benefit from integrated service delivery (ISD), but little is known about ISD elements and processes for this population. Method Using a multi‐method a...

Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) often have challenges with executive functioning (EF), which impacts their ability to self-regulate. In this study, 23 adolescents with FASD completed a self-regulation intervention. The intervention was a manualized Teen Adaptation of the Alert Program®. A nonrandomized waitlist control desig...

Background Screening for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) has been identified as a promising approach to improve recognition, understanding and effective response to the unique needs of those with FASD in criminal legal settings. However, to date, there has been limited synthesis of relevant screening tools, indicators, or implementation cons...

Background: The Canadian fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnostic guideline provides clinicians with the process and procedure to reach an accurate diagnosis. However, organisational structure, culture, and resource utilisation vary. The objectives of this study were to identify the key challenges and strengths of successful FASD diagnosti...

There is strong research to support integrated and gender-sensitive harm reduction approaches for supporting women, girls, and gender diverse people. For individuals who are pregnant, flexible and integrated treatment approaches may be especially important. In this study, we report on an integrated program in rural Canada designed to support pregna...

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can experience multiple layers of adversity that increase vulnerability to justice involvement. Given the systemic overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the justice system, community-based interventions are important for supporting Indigenous individuals with FASD who are justice-involve...

Background Consideration of sex‐ and gender‐related factors is critical for understanding and supporting health and wellbeing. Although both sex and gender influence people with developmental disabilities, there is relatively little research on these factors and their influences among individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a compl...

Objectives Supporting women and girls who are pregnant and experiencing substance use challenges is a high priority for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Complementary therapies (CTs) can be effective forms of treatment in some contexts and populations; however, research on the use of CTs in substance use recovery with pregnant women and g...

Background and Objective: The manner in which language is used reflects how people in a society view one another. Historically, individuals with disabilities have experienced discrimination through the use of stereotypic or demeaning language. Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) may be particularly susceptible to these negative...

Background and Objective The manner in which language is used reflects how people in a society view one another. Historically, individuals with disabilities have experienced discrimination through the use of stereotypic or demeaning language. Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) may be particularly susceptible to these negative i...

How would our understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) be different if FASD research was done in collaboration with individuals with lived experience? We speculate that there would be a better balance between basic science and applied research, focusing on effective interventions and strengths. As members of the Canada FASD Research...

Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) experience a range of biopsychosocial vulnerabilities that can increase the possibility of adverse life outcomes, including a heightened risk of suicidality. In this study, we explored the lived experiences of caregivers of children and youth with FASD and suicidality, including their percepti...

Rates of suicidality among individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are greater than that of the general population and many other disability groups. Increased research, practice, and policy change are needed to better understand suicidality among individuals with FASD and to develop and implement effective supports. This issue paper...

Introduction Limited research has been conducted on suicidality among individuals with FASD. The purpose of this scoping review was to understand (1) how suicidality has been measured; (2) what proportion of individuals experience suicidality across the lifespan; and (3) what contextual factors are associated with suicidality. Method We conducted...

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a multifaceted disability, characterized not only by brain- and body-based challenges, but also high rates of environmental adversity, lifelong difficulties with daily living, and distinct sociocultural considerations. FASD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities in the Western world and a...

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of neurodevelopmental challenges, often compounded by social and environmental adversity. One of the most concerning outcomes that can be associated with FASD is involvement in the justice system, where individuals with FASD are vastly over-represented. Individuals with FASD...

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities in North America. Stemming from the brain-and body-based impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure, individuals with FASD experience a range of challenges with physical, cognitive, behavioural, and social-emotional functioning. Most individuals with FASD req...

For many years, researchers have explored the complex challenges experienced by individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This research has been important for documenting the brain‐ and body‐based impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure and the psychosocial vulnerabilities and environmental adversities frequently associated with FASD. I...

Objective Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of complex neurodevelopmental, psychological, and socioenvironmental vulnerabilities. There is growing evidence that suicidal ideation, attempts, and death by suicide are significant concerns within this population. In this study, we (1) determined the rate of suic...

Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in North America. It is a complex disability, associated with challenges in cognitive, behavioural and socialemotional functioning, as well as an increased risk of physical and mental health comorbidities, and difficulties in daily living acro...

Background Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) face elevated rates of postnatal environmental adversity across the lifespan. Objective We explored early adversity among children and adolescents with PAE. Participants and setting Our sample included 333 children and adolescents with PAE asses...

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a multifaceted disability, associated not only with complex brain- and body-based challenges, but also with high rates of environmental adversity, diverse sociocultural contexts, and lifelong difficulties with daily living. It is important to consider the complexities of FASD, and the ways in which FASD req...

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience remarkably high rates of mental health and substance use challenges, beginning early in life and extending throughout adulthood. Proactive intervention can help to mitigate some of these negative experiences. Although the literature on FASD intervention is growing, there is currentl...

Language is a powerful tool that can influence how society views individuals with disabilities. Stereotypic or negatively valanced language can contribute to negative self-views among individuals with disabilities. Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and their families may be particularly susceptible to these negative impacts gi...

Cette étude visait à fournir un aperçu des mesures prises par les cliniciens canadiens pour évaluer la fonction cérébrale chez les personnes évaluées pour le trouble du spectre de l’alcoolisation fœtale (TSAF). Nous nous sommes intéressés aux méthodes utilisées par les cliniciens canadiens du TSAF, aux tendances relatives aux pratiques d’évaluation...

Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) have a heightened sensitivity to stress because of the brain-based impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). There are also disproportionately high rates of chronic and complex adversity among people with FASD, which differentiates them from other disability groups. In order to address these...

Background Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of problems in their cognitive, affective, and physical functioning following prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), in addition to multiple complex difficulties in daily living that impact well‐being. Using the Canadian National FASD Database, we sought to profile a ra...

Given the unique complexities of FASD, there is a need for provinces and territories to address and support the needs of people with FASD and their families through FASD-specific strategies. Currently in Canada, four provinces and territories have an operating strategy or framework in place to address FASD. Other existing provincial and territorial...

Individuals with a history of offending behavior show high rates of mental disorder as well as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Neurocognitive impairments are common in both mental disorders and FASD and may interface with offending behavior. Understanding these impairments could effectively inform clinical considerations among this populati...

Background: The suggested “gold standard” for FASD assessment involves a multidisciplinary diagnostic team and comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to evaluate functioning across ten brain domains. The current Canadian Guideline for diagnosis of FASD outlines a list of test measures for assessment; however, very little research exists...

The vast majority of FASD research is focused on the challenges and impairments associated with the disability, as well as the burden of FASD on families and the broader community. This type of research can help to validate the experiences of individuals with FASD and their families, and to inform where services and supports might be needed the mos...

Early intervention for individuals with FASD is paramount, thus exploring factors that affect the diagnostic process is critical. This process can be complicated by challenges gathering background information, accurately evaluating higher-level cognitive skills across ages, and teasing apart the impact of life adversities from the effects of prenat...

Despite our knowledge that individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are over-represented and vulnerable in the justice system, there is a critical paucity of research related to supporting offenders with FASD. The Alexis FASD Justice Program (AFJP) is an innovative and multidisciplinary justice program in rural Alberta that uses info...

Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a complicated disability resulting in a diverse, highneeds population for whom intervention is critical to optimize functional competence and reduce the emergence of adverse outcomes. Researchers have been evaluating intervention efforts for FASD to inform practice and policy decision-making. Ob...

Individuals with FASD are often characterized by impaired neurocognitive functioning, which may increase their likelihood of engaging in maladaptive, high risk, and criminal behaviour. Additionally, this group is frequently reported to experience lifelong environmental adversity, and the combination of these factors complicates efforts to intervene...

The value of research-informed classroom practices is well recognized and thus this qualitative study was designed to explore, from multiple perspectives, the experiences and influences of classroom practices for students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The inductive analysis of 11 focus groups and three interviews involving 60 indivi...

Job, J., Poth, C., Pei, J., Wyper, K., Teresa, O., & Taylor, L. (2014). Combining visual methods with focus groups: An innovative approach for capturing the multifaceted and complex work experiences of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevention specialists. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3(1), 71-80. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v3i1....

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is associated with a range of disabilities, including physical, behavioural, and cognitive deficits. One specific area of concern in children with FASD is the use and development of speech and language. Language deficits in FASD have been linked to learning problems and social difficulties. The current study s...