This article emerges from a larger study of preventive approaches for Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD) prepared for the New York State Department of Education. The author contends that in addition to clearly identifiable Fetal Alcohol Syndrome children, there is a continuum of impairment to the offspring of drinking mothers that is dose related and produces serious behavioral/learning deficits. The continuum includes young people of normal intelligence who perform below expected levels and find school adjustment difficult. School and community agencies need to conduct studies to determine the nature and extent of impairment and the kind of interventive and preventive action that should be instituted. To that end, this article gives information on the background and nature of ARBD and some suggestions to guide development of programs.
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