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Media reflect and affect social understandings, beliefs, and values on many topics, including the lives of autistic and disabled people. Media analysis has garnered attention in the field of disability studies, which some scholars and activists consider a promising approach to discussing the experiences of – and for promoting social justice for – autistic people, who remain underrepresented on scripted television. Additionally, existing portrayals often rely on stereotyped representations of disabled individuals as objects of pity, objects of inspiration, or villains. Television may also serve as a primary source of public knowledge about disabled people and the concept of disability. It is therefore essential that such portrayals avoid stigma and stereotyping. We take a disability studies lens to critically analyze and compare representations of diverse people, who may sometimes be conflated in the popular imaginary, across television series about autistic characters (Atypical, The Good Doctor), those with cerebral palsy (Speechless, Special), and a character with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (Shameless). We employ an intersectional analytic framework to problematize representations of autistic and disabled people, using television, feminist, and critical disability studies literatures. We analyze how the formal structure of television storytelling can either enable or disable its characters, as well as how portrayals of disability that display a sensitivity to concerns raised by critical disability discourse do not necessarily display the same sensitivity when they intersect with marginalized experiences of gender, sexuality, race, and class. 

Background As a teratogen, alcohol exposure during pregnancy can impact fetal development and result in adverse birth outcomes. Despite the clinical and social importance of prenatal alcohol use, limited routinely collected information or epidemiological data exists in Canada. The aim of this study was to pool data from multiple Canadian cohort studies to identify sociodemographic characteristics before and during pregnancy that were associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to assess the impact of different patterns of alcohol use on birth outcomes. Methods We harmonized information collected (e.g., pregnant women’s alcohol intake, infants' gestational age and birth weight) from five Canadian pregnancy cohort studies to consolidate a large sample ( n  = 11,448). Risk factors for any alcohol use during pregnancy, including any alcohol use prior to pregnancy recognition, and binge drinking, were estimated using binomial regressions including fixed effects of pregnancy cohort membership and multiple maternal risk factors. Impacts of alcohol use during pregnancy on birth outcomes (preterm birth and low birth weight for gestational) were also estimated using binomial regression models. Results In analyses adjusting for multiple risk factors, women’s alcohol use during pregnancy, both any use and any binge drinking, was associated with drinking prior to pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy, and white ethnicity. Higher income level was associated with any drinking during pregnancy. Neither drinking during pregnancy nor binge drinking during pregnancy was significantly associated with preterm delivery or low birth weight for gestational age in our sample. Conclusions Pooling data across pregnancy cohort studies allowed us to create a large sample of Canadian women and investigate the risk factors for alcohol consumption during pregnancy. We suggest that future pregnancy and birth cohorts should always include questions related to the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed before and during pregnancy that are prospectively harmonized to support data reusability and collaborative research.

Popular culture has recently seen the emergence of the so-called comical wine mom persona, particularly on social media sites such as Instagram. Given the increasing use of alcohol amongst women and the emergence of alcohol as a tool for women and mothers to assert agency and gender equity, a critical analysis of wine mom culture warrants attention. Forty Instagram posts associated with the #winemom hashtag were selected using theoretical sampling and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The central objective was to use a postfeminist lens to critically explore how wine mom culture is part of the consumption, (re)production and (re)configuration of the ideologies of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ motherhood occurring in online gendered spaces. The findings demonstrated the ubiquity of wine mom culture and its contribution to normalized images and meanings of ‘liberated motherhood’ that may have problematic sociocultural and health implications related to women’s alcohol consumption.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term used to describe an array of structural, neurocognitive, and behavioral effects that result from prenatal alcohol exposure. While ongoing efforts have been made to increase the capacity of communities to provide early FASD diagnosis, there continues to be on-going challenges, particularly for remote and rural communities. Telehealth is the use of technology to connect communities at a distance and has been effectively used in medicine for several decades. This literature review describes the use of telehealth in FASD and other developmental disabilities and makes recommendations for how telehealth can be used to facilitate the assessment and diagnosis of FASD in rural and remote communities.

Background: Cannamom culture (CMC), an online movement for acceptance of cannabis use among mothers, has gained traction on social media. The urgency for exploration of CMC in a Canadian context was enhanced through legalization of cannabis in 2018, followed by legalization of cannabis edibles in 2019. Objectives: We sought to explore cannamoms’ social media and blog posts, and their representations of cannabis use and motherhood. Methods: This qualitative study utilized reflexive thematic analysis of Canadian cannamom blog posts (N = 30) and Instagram posts (N = 34). Analysis of these outlets was considered through the lenses of similar social media phenomena, such as influencer, wine mom, wellness, and mental health cultural movements. Results: The overarching theme identified was mothers marketing to mothers, with outlets advertising cannabis products and coaching. Three inter-related sub-themes were present within posts that facilitated this marketing: (1) a focus on increased normalization, attempted destigmatization, and legalization of cannabis due to its favorable health effects compared to other normalized substances; (2) responsible and personalized cannabis consumption to promote health and wellness; and (3) cannabis use as a way to achieve motherhood ideals including thinness, productivity, mental wellness, and engaged parenting. Conclusions: CMC spaces online reproduce intensive motherhood narratives and position cannabis as an acceptable solution to motherhood struggles. The focus on wellness and personalization draws on wellness movements by constructing cannabis consumption as natural, responsible, and health promoting. These findings have implications for policy makers and healthcare providers regarding mothers’ understandings of cannabis use and health.

The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the measures used by clinicians in Canada to evaluate brain function among individuals assessed for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). We explored which measures are used by Canadian FASD clinicians, emerging trends in FASD assessment practice, and the extent to which clinicians' choice of measures aligns with those recommended in the current Canadian FASD diagnostic guideline. Data were collected via an online survey sent to all FASD clinics in Canada. The response rate was 75%, with 121 individual respondents from 44 clinics. Clinicians reported using a total of 182 unique measures, some of which were reported to assess function across multiple brain domains. There was a fair amount of consistency in measures reportedly used across the country. Although only 32% of measures aligned with those recommended in the Canadian guideline, almost all of the most frequently reported measures aligned with the guideline. We also identified several commonly reported measures that are not in the guideline but may be useful to consider as the guideline continues to evolve. Overall, this study highlights the importance of clinical consistency, ongoing training, and consideration of the research and clinical evidence base to ensure that clinicians across the country are engaging in rigorous and reliable FASD assessment and diagnostic practice. Cette étude visait à fournir un aperçu des mesures prises par les cliniciens canadiens pour évaluer la fonction cérébrale chez les personnes évaluées pour le trouble du spectre de l'alcoolisation fœtale (TSAF). Nous nous sommes intéressés aux méthodes utilisées par les cliniciens canadiens du TSAF, aux tendances relatives aux pratiques d'évaluation du TSAF, et à la mesure dans laquelle les choix des mesures par les cliniciens concordent avec les recommandations de la ligne directrice diagnostique actuelle pour le TSAF. Des données ont été colligées dans le cadre d'un questionnaire en ligne envoyé à toutes les cliniques du TSAF au Canada. Le taux de réponse était de 75 %, soit 121 répondants dans 44 cliniques. Les cliniciens ont rapporté utiliser au total 182 mesures uniques, certaines desquelles visaient à évaluer la fonction dans de multiples secteurs du cerveau. Un consensus raisonnable a été observé parmi les mesures que les cliniciens ont rapporté utiliser à travers le pays. Bien que seulement 32 % des mesures s'alignaient à celles recommandées par la ligne directrice canadienne, presque toutes les mesures les plus fréquemment rapportées concordaient avec celle-ci. Nous avons aussi relevé plusieurs mesures couramment rapportées qui ne figurent pas dans la ligne directrice, mais qu'il pourrait s'avérer utile de prendre en compte au fil de l'évolution de la ligne directrice. Dans l'ensemble, cette étude met en lumière l'importance du consensus clinique, de la formation continue, et de la prise en compte de la recherche et de la preuve clinique pour veiller à ce que les cliniciens d'à travers le pays mettent en œuvre des pratiques rigoureuses et fiables d'évaluation et de diagnostic du TSAF. Public Significance Statement Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) assessment and diagnosis are essential for helping people with FASD to connect with important services and supports. There are different approaches to FASD diagnosis around the world, but Canadian FASD clinicians are encouraged to follow a standard process. In this study, we examined the test use of FASD clinicians across Canada and found good consistency across the country, alignment with the current Canadian FASD diagnostic guideline, and some important areas where FASD clinical practice could be improved.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a profile of the Canada fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (CanFASD) research network which is descriptive in nature and profiles the work of the network and its national activities. CanFASD is a unique Canadian, non-governmental organization whose aim is to engage cross-disciplinary research and knowledge translation for stakeholders and partners including communities, policy makers and governments. Design/methodology/approach A case study approach was undertaken to describe the network whose main focus and purpose is specifically research related to FASD. Findings The creation of CanFASD has contributed to a strong network of researchers on key topic areas including diagnosis, prevention, intervention, justice and child welfare, with a focus on evidence-based decision making, research and knowledge exchange. A key role of the network is to provide access to research and education on FASD nationally. Research limitations/implications A case study approach, while descriptive, does not provide the details of specific research projects. Originality/value CanFASD has had a key role in stimulating meaningful dialogue and research in the field of FASD. The need exists to collaboratively work on a national and international basis in response to the distinct challenges posed by FASD for individuals, families and society.