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For Immediate Release - September 8, 2010

Contact: Teresa Anderson

Prevention Coordinator

The Arc of California

916-759-0163

Eleventh Annual International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day

Sacramento, California: September 9, 2010 is the Eleventh Annual International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day. The purpose of this day is to bring awareness to the prevention and treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Prenatal exposure to alcohol is still the leading PREVENTABLE cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities in children today.

Events are usually held at 9:09, the 9th minute of the 9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th month of the year. This date and time is used to remind women not to drink during the 9 months of pregnancy. Bells are rung at 9:09 a.m. in every time zone from New Zealand to Alaska to remind people about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. A Bell concordance will be observed at 9:09 and the day will continue with an information booth and awareness materials.

The Arc of California and the California Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force will be hosting an awareness event on 9/9/10 on the West Steps of the Capitol building from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Awareness activities include building an arc of 370 balloons each representing 100 Californians impacted by prenatal exposure to alcohol, information about FASD treatment and

prevention, and free Snickers bars to anyone who completes our quick survey on FASD.

FASD affects thousands of people each year. Current California Department of Public Health estimates show a prevalence rate of approximately 1% of the population and some researchers suggest it could be as high as 2-5%. On the conservative side that means that in California over 5,000 babies are born each year prenatally exposed to alcohol and about 370,000 people live with the lifetime complications of FASD. Support FASD Awareness by reminding women not to drink alcohol during pregnancy, these disabilities are 100% PREVENTABLE!

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