In the Driver’s Seat
At Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society, we believe meaningful change happens when people are trusted to tell their own stories — in their own words, and on their own terms. In the Driver’s Seat is a space for those voices.
This column is about lived experience. Not as a headline or a statistic, but as real life — the moments that shape perspective, inform decisions, and influence the road ahead. It’s about what it feels like to navigate systems, relationships, parenting, pregnancy, caregiving, and community while carrying experiences that don’t always fit neatly into a form or a file.
Being “in the driver’s seat” doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means having agency. It means being listened to. It means having room to reflect on where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you hope to go next.
In the Driver’s Seat is not about fixing people. It’s about learning from them.
It’s about recognizing that every journey looks different — and that insight doesn’t always come from milestones or outcomes, but from the quiet moments in between. The decision to ask for help. The courage to try again. The realization that something needs to change. The relief of being believed.
This column also reminds us that progress isn’t always linear. There are detours. There are pauses. Sometimes there’s a need to pull over and reassess. Lived experience helps normalize that reality — and helps ensure that our work remains grounded, compassionate, and responsive.
The stories shared here may come from parents, caregivers, individuals with lived experience, program participants, or community members walking alongside FFAS. Some will be hopeful. Some will be hard-earned. All of them matter.
We know that lived experience brings a kind of wisdom that can’t be taught. It helps us understand why flexibility matters. Why trust takes time. Why support needs to meet people where they are — not where we assume they should be. These stories help shape how programs grow, how services adapt, and how community understanding deepens.
Most importantly, In the Driver’s Seat is about respect. Respect for personal stories. Respect for autonomy. Respect for the expertise that comes from living it, day in and day out.
