Is it ADHD, autism, trauma… or FASD?
One in every 20 to 100 first graders may have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and most are never identified. Learn to see the brain behind the behavior and teach in a way these students can actually remember.
You have taught this child. You may be teaching them now.
They are often bright, friendly and eager to please. And yet the usual strategies keep sliding off.
It is not a behavior problem. It is a brain difference.
Prenatal alcohol exposure changes how the brain stores and retrieves information, links actions to consequences and handles abstract ideas like time and money. Most children with FASD have no visible features, so their struggles get read as defiance, laziness or poor parenting.
When teachers see the brain behind the behavior, frustration gives way to understanding, and understanding opens the door to strategies that work. Every child deserves to be seen truthfully and taught with hope.
Can’t… yet
Ask “What does this child need?” instead of “What is wrong with this child?”
Same behavior. Four different brains.
FASD is often mistaken for ADHD, autism or trauma, and a child can have more than one. Here is a glimpse of the side-by-side chart from the course.
| What you notice | FASD | Autism | ADHD | Trauma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory | Learns it, then loses it; weak retrieval | Often strong rote memory | Forgets tasks and steps, not knowledge | Learning shuts down during stress |
| Rules and consequences | Often cannot link a consequence to the action | Learns explicit rules well; may be rigid | Knows the rule, acts before thinking | Reacts to perceived danger, not the rule |
The full chart covers six classroom signals. Teachers observe and refer; this chart is not a diagnostic tool.
The “Four Lenses” Classroom Chart
A one-page printable comparing FASD, autism, ADHD and trauma across six classroom signals, plus the five supports that help all four. Post it by your desk or share it with your student support team.
Mnemonic Training and Brain-Based Support for Elementary Students with FASD
30 hours · online · self-paced. Seven practical modules that take you from understanding to a ready-to-teach lesson plan.
Welcome and pre-assessment
How the course works and a quick check of what you already know.
Understanding FASD
The FASD umbrella, why most children have no visible signs, and language that removes blame.
The FASD brain and overlapping profiles
Memory, executive function and processing speed, plus how FASD overlaps with and differs from ADHD, autism and trauma.
Foundations of mnemonic training
Why memory “hooks” work, what the research shows and where it is still thin.
Mnemonic techniques for K–5
Keyword, pegword, acrostics, chunking, rhythm and picture stories, with classroom demonstrations.
Classroom environment and accommodations
Routines, transitions, sensory supports and how it all fits into MTSS, 504 plans and IEPs.
Families, ethics and culture
Partnering with birth, foster, adoptive and kinship families without blame, and knowing the limits of your role.
Progress monitoring and capstone
Simple data to see what is working, and a finished lesson plan you can use the next week.
By the end, you will be able to:
- Recognize the classroom signs of FASD that most people miss
- Tell FASD apart from ADHD, autism and trauma, and support kids who have more than one
- Reframe hard behavior through a “can’t, not won’t” lens
- Teach with at least four mnemonic techniques for your grade level
- Set up routines, visuals and sensory supports that lower meltdowns
- Talk with families in a way that builds trust instead of blame
- Track whether a strategy is working, and adjust when it is not
- Leave with a ready-to-teach lesson plan
Choose your path
Individual teacher
Founding price for the first 50 teachers who enroll. After that, the course is $249.
- Full 30-hour course, self-paced
- Video lessons, readings and printable toolkits
- Four Lenses chart and Mnemonic Toolkit
- Certificate of completion
- Documentation packet for submitting hours to your licensing board or district
School team (3–15 seats)
For teams of 3 to 15 educators. Need more than 15 seats? Contact us for district pricing.
- Everything in the individual course for each staff member
- Team progress reporting
- Optional live Q&A with the FASD Truth team
- Ideal for building-wide MTSS and special education teams
Larger district? Email us.
Research, classroom experience and lived experience
[Lead instructor name, credentials]
[Licensed educator or school psychologist. Years with K–5 students, FASD training and experience with memory instruction.]
Joel Sheagren
Co-founder of Embracing Neurodiversity and FASD Truth. Award-winning filmmaker and longtime FASD advocate who brings the family perspective into every module. [Edit as you choose.]
Frequently asked
Will my state accept these hours?
It depends on your state and district. Many accept individually submitted professional development when it is well documented, which is why every completer receives a full packet. Some do not accept online self-study. Please check with your board or local committee first.
How long do I have to finish?
The course is self-paced. [State your access period, for example 12 months from enrollment.]
Do I need to know whether a student has FASD?
No. Most students with FASD are never diagnosed, and teachers should never try to diagnose. The strategies help any child who struggles with memory, attention or routines.
I already took autism or trauma training. Is this different?
Yes. This course focuses on FASD and shows how it overlaps with and differs from those profiles, so you can tell why a strategy that works for one child may fall flat for another.
Is this only for special education teachers?
No. It is written for general and special education teachers, paraprofessionals and interventionists in grades K–5.
Every child deserves to be understood.
Start with the free chart, or step into the full course and give the students who have been misread a fresh start.