-SAVE THE DATE-
Alaska Documentary Film Premiere
‘8 Keys for Adults with FASD’
Seven adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) telling their stories,
challenges, strengths, and strategies for success
2:30pm – Friday, September 8
Bear Tooth Theatrepub
Anchorage, Alaska
$10 Suggested Donation (at the door)
For Information/Interviews, Contact: Teri Tibbett
Email: teri@alaskacenterforfasd.org
Website: www.alaskacenterforfasd.org
Cell: (907) 957-9571
The Alaska Center for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), a non-profit organization, is pleased to announce the premiere of 8 Keys for Adults with FASD, a documentary film by Dan Redfield featuring seven self-advocates who experience an FASD sharing their stories and the strategies that help them to be successful living with this brain-based difference. The film premiere at the Bear Tooth will be followed by a Q&A with cast members and the film’s producers. See the film trailer the here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MacS-gzsC_I
The documentary film is a sequel to the 2014 animated short film, ‘8 Magic Keys: For Developing Successful Interventions for Students with FASD,’ created by Alaska special education teacher and FASD specialist, Deb Evensen, in collaboration with Jan Lutke and the Anchorage School District. See the 2014 animated prequel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKFV21waMe0
The cast members of the 2023 documentary film, who developed the content with support from Deb Evensen and Alaska Center for FASD founder Marilyn Pierce-Bulger, established key success strategies and developed the interview questions based on those themes. Anchorage filmmaker Dan Redfield filmed and edited the interviews and produced the animation that features Mario, the narrator.
“I have never regretted getting an FASD diagnosis because it helped me put the pieces together and get answers for lots of unanswered questions I had about myself. The diagnosis has also helped me to be more gentle with myself and I now show myself more grace.”
–Gina Schumaker, Cast Member
“The film is a powerful reminder that all is not as it appears when one looks or interacts with someone who may have a ‘hidden disability.’” –Marilyn Pierce-Bulger, Co-Producer
“People perceive me to be higher functioning than I am, so it’s important for me to get people to understand that I do have limitations and I do have disabilities and that they do affect my day to day functionality …[and] I require adaptations to be functional.”
—Morgan Fawcett, Cast Member
“This is a story of wisdom, strength, persistence, and hope. There is so much hope for individuals, families, and communities living with FASD and this film proves it.” –Deb Evensen, Co-Producer
“This project has been eye opening in the sense of how many people are affected with FASD and how they display symptoms differently based on where they are in the spectrum … These people are so strong and beautiful, they deserve to be celebrated. I’m so very grateful to have the chance to tell a small bit of their story.” –Dan Redfield, Filmmaker
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The film was produced with generous support from the Alaska Department of Health FASD Program. This premiere event is part of the Alaska Center for FASD’s celebration of September International FASD Awareness Month. To read more, go here: https://fasdunited.org/fasdmonth/
PAE/FASD Facts
[1] Health Impacts of Alcohol Misuse in Alaska, Alaska Division of Public Health, (2018).
[2] Alaska Mental Health Trust, Drugs and Alcohol Report, FASD Summary, (2020).
[3] May, Chambers, Kalberg; Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in 4 US Communities, JAMA, (2018)
[4] Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Can We Change the Future?, Alcohol, Clinical, and Experimental Research, (2020)