Misdiagnosed, Misunderstood, and Overlooked—The FASD Truth We Need to Hear with Joel Sheagren

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Filmmaker and advocate Joel Sheagren joins Kristin Kurtz for a powerful conversation on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), prenatal alcohol exposure, adoption, mental health, neurodiversity, and the hidden struggles many families face. Joel shares his family’s story, the heartbreaking reality of misdiagnosis, and why many children with brain-based differences are mislabeled as “bad” instead of being understood. We discuss metacognition, adaptive skills, faith, and practical support for parents, educators, and churches through the Embrace Movement, Embracing Zach, and Embracing Hope.

Joel's contact info:

Email - joel@embracinghopebook.com

Website - embracing-neurodiversity.com

Resources mentioned:

Novel, written by Jodee Kulp Embracing Zak Novel

Feature Film, the script is written by Justen Overlander, based on the novel, Embracing Zak - embracingzak.com

Parent resource book, Embracing Hope, written by Joel Sheagren & Carl Young

Church resource book, Embrace Neurodiversity, written by Joel Sheagren & Carl Young 

Documentary, Embraced, a prequel to the feature film

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Hope Unlocked podcast disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational & inspirational purposes only. The views, opinions, experiences, & testimonies shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Content shared is not intended to replace professional medical, mental health, legal, financial, or other professional advice. Please use discernment & seek appropriate guidance for your unique situation.