Harrison’s Hope - FASD Support

Our September 17, 2026 Education and discussion session for Service Providers focused on hearing about Harrison's Hope, a charity founded by Mary Byrnes devoted to offering supports at all stages & ages to all individuals living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and to their caregivers throughout the lifespan of both.

In addition to offering support & programs for those living with FASD or supporting, we also offer consultation, training, and guest speaker services to other organizations, professionals & institutions. We offer Accessibility Audits, Rick Hansen Certification and Co-Design of Built Environments services as well.

During the discussion, Mary was asked what is the best time to talk to a young person about their FASD diagnosis?

Wisely, she explained that similar to the topic of adoption, you talk about it from the very start. There is no right time to share this important information. By talking about FASD from the very beginning - as soon as a child can understand language - you start to build their knowledge and self-acceptance, and you reduce the secrecy, shame and stigma that often surrounds this diagnosis. Mary's insights were a valuable reminder to us all that knowledge really is power, and being able to talk about things openly will go a long way towards helping a young person understand all parts of themselves in an informed and positive way.

As the parent of a young person living with FASD, Mary is a passionate advocate for people with FASD and their loved ones. She has just come out with a memoir, Everything Clicks: A Story of FASD, Motherhood, and the Life I Didn't Know I Was Living, available to purchase on Amazon.

To reach Mary or Harrison's Hope, please email Info@harrisonshope.ca.