The FASD Success Show
Jeff Noble thought he knew all about FASD... until he became a full time FASD Foster Parent. Fast forward to now. Jeff has been coast to coast and from one side of the earth to the other talking, teaching and learning about FASD with other Caregivers, Front Line Staff and anyone who might sit and listen to him. In The FASD SUCCESS SHOW, Jeff and his gang of FASD Insiders will talk about FASD in a real way so that you can learn how to deal and cope with FASD in REAL life, to be a better advocate and a more confident caregiver. Jeff is going to tackle all the hot topics like FASD and aggression, sleep, hygiene, the education system, meltdowns and working with professionals. Pretty much all the things you need to know so that you can focus on being a happy, balanced caregiver. Jeff will make you laugh, he will make you think, but mostly he will give you hope that you CAN do this. Hit subscribe and get ready to transform into the FASD Caregiver you know you can be.
The FASD Success Show
#184 Carrie McCarter - Helps Kids for a Living: But She Felt Like She Was Failing Her Own
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Carrie McCarter is a speech-language pathologist with a master’s degree who has spent her career working in the birth-to-three world of early intervention. However, when it came to raising her own twins with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), she found that her professional training wasn't enough to navigate the intense dysregulation and sensory challenges at home.
In this episode, Carrie opens up about the "professional paradox" of being an expert in child development while feeling like a failure as a parent. She shares the turning point that occurred when she stopped trying to "fix" behaviors and started understanding the unique architecture of the FASD brain.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation
- The Struggle for Diagnosis: Carrie discusses the two-and-a-half-year journey to secure an FASD diagnosis, which finally came when her twins were 10.5 years old.
- The 10 Brain Domains: Discover how learning about the brain domains was "gut-wrenching yet freeing," allowing Carrie to move from guilt to effective accommodation.
- Professional vs. Parent: Carrie explains why her twins would "shut down" at school while displaying acting-out behaviors at home, and why traditional parenting techniques often fail these children.
- The Power of Yet: A look at how Carrie manages the transition into adulthood and why she remains hopeful about the brain’s ability to grow and learn well into the 20s and beyond.
- Self-Care for the Solo Parent: How Carrie utilizes respite services, online grocery shopping, and "breathing breaks" to stay regulated as a single mother.
Resources and Links
Free FASD Workshop Registration Join our upcoming free workshops this February to learn a new brain-body approach to managing aggression and building stability. Register Here: https://www.fasdsuccess.com/fasd-workshop-2026
Connect with Carrie McCarter Carrie is a passionate educator and speaker available for training and advocacy sessions.
Email: carriemccarterfasd@gmail.com
Watch on YouTube See the full video version of this interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7UJh3m9ZAA
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