What Happens When We Finally Hear It’s Not Your Fault: Rj Formanek's story
Send us a text We share real, lived experiences from someone navigating life with FASD: the diagnosis, the data, and the dignity that often get lost in the conversation. Together, we unpack the daily struggles and the deep relief that comes from hearing the words, “It’s not your fault.” What follows is a powerful journey from shame to self-forgiveness, as we explore person-first support, resilience, and practical tools that empower families, educators, and communities to truly understan...
We share real, lived experiences from someone navigating life with FASD: the diagnosis, the data, and the dignity that often get lost in the conversation. Together, we unpack the daily struggles and the deep relief that comes from hearing the words, “It’s not your fault.”
What follows is a powerful journey from shame to self-forgiveness, as we explore person-first support, resilience, and practical tools that empower families, educators, and communities to truly understand and uplift those living with FASD.
• global and national prevalence of FASD and underdiagnosis
• RJ’s childhood, system involvement, and late diagnosis
• shame, stigma, and the power of “it’s not your fault”
• behavior as symptom, not choice, in school settings
• person-first frameworks and lived-experience leadership
• memory, executive function, and “manual transmission” brains
• routines, morning ramp-up time, and no-homework advocacy
• how to explain FASD to children in age-appropriate steps
• dismaturity across brain domains and realistic expectations
• caregiver challenges, resilience, and community support
You won't want to miss it. Until then, remember understanding creates connection, and connection creates change.
@Real Talk with Tina and Ann
00:08 - Opening And Why FASD Matters
00:26 - Prevalence, Myths, And Impact
01:17 - Introducing RJ And Early Advocacy
02:32 - Canada’s Numbers And Diagnostics
04:33 - RJ’s Childhood And System Involvement
09:04 - Finding Safety And Autonomy
13:18 - Emotion, Memory, And Living In The Moment
17:39 - Diagnosis, Shame, And Self‑Forgiveness
20:42 - School Struggles And Behavior As Symptom
24:07 - Person‑First Approach And Lived Expertise
27:10 - Grief, Birth Moms, And Blame
31:47 - Homelessness Risk And Neurodivergent Freedom
34:49 - Executive Function, Planning, And No Homework
38:07 - Caregiving, Community, And Safe Support
42:11 - Resilience, Fresh Starts, And Routines
46:00 - How To Tell Kids About FASD
50:14 - Dismaturity And Brain Domains
58:53 - Closing Reflections And Part Two Teaser