The Red Shoes Gala benefiting FASD United celebrates the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) community & the field that supports it. In 2026, our theme, “FASD is an & Conversation” or simply “FASD &” reflects the complexity, nuance, & interconnected realities of FASD.

FASD is a disability & a public health issue.
It is lifelong & often unseen.
It is about prevention & dignity, support, & belonging for people with lived experience.

This theme invites us to move beyond either/or thinking and toward a more complete understanding of FASD as it truly exists in people’s lives, families, systems, & communities.

FASD affects approximately 1 in 20 people in the United States, intersecting with child welfare, behavioral health, substance use services, education, justice, healthcare, housing, employment, & public policy. No single system holds the full answer. Addressing FASD requires conversations across disciplines, sectors, & lived & professional experience. FASD is not one story; it is many, held together.

The FASD community is deeply human. We share stories, develop resilience, & build systems of interdependence that recognize both strengths & challenges. People with FASD are not problems to be solved; they are individuals with talents, aspirations, & contributions to make, when provided with understanding and appropriate supports.

Advocacy for FASD is inherently relational. It lives in the space between science & compassion, policy & practice, prevention & lifelong support. It grows through partnership, listening, & a willingness to hold complexity rather than simplify it away.

Held in Washington, D.C. during FASD United’s national Impact Week, the Red Shoes Gala offers a rare opportunity to gather with researchers, policy leaders, advocates, supporters, & people with lived experience. Together, we will celebrate progress, elevate emerging conversations, & commit to a future where FASD is met with informed systems, inclusive policies, & communities prepared to support people across the lifespan.

FASD is an & Conversation — & everyone at the table matters.

The Red Shoes Gala 2026

FASD in an AND Conversation