Join this Event on September 9th & Make #FASD Visible on Twitter!
FASD Awareness Day 2011 was a a terrific initial success for increasing FASD-specific tweets and increasing awareness on Twitter; we’re doing it again in 2012 to have even more participation!
@FASDElephant (Twitter username of Michael Harris) is starting early and again encouraging and hosting a worldwide #FASD #TwitterParty on September 9th to make #FASD a worldwide Twitter trending topic and increase FASD awareness across the world.
See last year’s video (2012 video will be made in summer 2012):
How to Make #FASD a Twitter Trend:
1. Register for the Event: Register on either Facebook (to be set up in summer 2012) or Eventbrite, then I will send you an email and Tweet reminder on September 9th.
2. Share this invitation: Tweet or “Like” it from the “Share this!” section above.
3. Visit Tweet4FASD.com: Find sample tweet ideas, more info about the 2012 #FASD Awareness Day #TwitterParty, video tutorials on setting up and using Twitter, and links for more about FASD.
4. Tweet #FASD messages with 120 characters or less: No matter the time, no matter your location… Tweet several times using the hashtag #FASD on September 9th so it will show up as a trend on Twitter. (BTW, Tweets 120 characters or less are easy to re-tweet.)
5. Document your FASD Awareness Day event: Send Tweets and Tweetpics from your event on September 9th – Include the hashtag #FASD.
6. Retweet other #FASD Tweets you receive: Keep the momentum going!
Sample Tweets:
Copy, paste, customize, and Tweet (or use the pre-loaded Tweet buttons):
A. Tweet#FASD Awareness Day! Alcohol+Pregnancy=Lifetime of Problems. Please don’t drink when pregnant. B. Tweet#FASD is preventable! Alcohol in pregnancy can cause brain damage. Please don’t drink while pregnant.
C. Tweet@FASDElephant I’m honoring #FASD Awareness Day in [city/country] by [tell me something about your event].
Follow @FASDElephant on Twitter: 
Need help with Twitter?
Here is a great video overview that explains the basics really well:
Want a Reminder to Tweet for #FASD
FASD Awareness Day
The FASD Elephant™ Podcast and website, dedicated to changing the way we think about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), joins with other communities across the world in support of FASD Awareness Day, September 9. Every September 9th, communities throughout the world observe FASD Awareness Day with events held at the 9th minute of the 9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th month of the year to remind women not to drink during the nine months of pregnancy. To bring FASD awareness to Twitter users around the world, I am asking everyone with a Twitter account to Tweet the above message on September 9, 2011, or tweet your own message and include the hashtag #FASD. Sincerely, Michael Harris, Licensed Psychologist, Founder of FASD Elephant
What is FASD?
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe the range of disabilities that can affect people who are exposed to alcohol prenatally. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause brain damage in a developing fetus, resulting in lifelong problems with attention, memory, reasoning, and judgment. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can also result in physical disabilities such as vision and hearing problems, sensory integration disorders, balance problems and clumsiness, slowed growth, heart problems and malformed bones. There is great variability in the characteristics of those affected by FASD, depending on the amount and timing of the mother’s drinking, the mother’s nutrition and overall health, and individual genetic factors. Here is a video by my friend Morgan Fawcett, who shares what it is like to live with FASD:
A PSA about FASD: