Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the focus Friday for the FASD Awareness Day campaign. Portage's FASD Diagnostic Coordinator for Southern Health-Santé Sud Nancy Neufeld explains the day's significance.

"The first FASD Awareness Day was held on September (9th month) 9, 1999, and the people, who started it were focusing on the number 9 for the 9 months of a woman's pregnancy. So, just trying to focus on just a healthy pregnancy and what some of the things are to do."

She explains how the effort's made a difference.

"It's made a difference in terms of people requesting assessments and understanding that it's important in terms of helping a child, or helping a youth. It's important to find out how we can help them. And, really, if they've been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, then the way that we can help them is to find out where their challenges are and how we can best support them as they grow older."

Neufeld says the numbers of those born with FASD is hard to pin down. Currently, the statistic is about 1 in 100 who are affected by alcohol use during pregnancy. She notes it's the leading known cause of developmental disability in Canada.

She adds the main message to take away is if there's a chance you're pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, 'no alcohol' is safest choice. Neufeld says conflicting messages are going around, and they want people to know that's the safest choice.

The FASD Awareness BBQ is taking place at Portage's west-end Co-op from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.