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Mt. Hope Family Center
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Inspiring Change For FASD Through Film

Lights, Camera, Action:  Changing FASD Stories and Shaping Policies

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are common developmental disabilities, affecting 1 in 20 people. Yet, most people with FASD can’t access needed supports and services to help them thrive. Stigma plays a large role in low awareness and barriers to care.

Our team at Mt. Hope Family Center is partnering with DeBergerac Productions and members of the FASD community to inspire change. We are using film to flip the negative and stigmatizing stories that are all too often talked about FASD. We aim to inform policies that provide equitable access and opportunities for people to thrive in their communities.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and the Pursuit of the Respect Act

View the trailer for this documentary about courage, compassion, and the fight for change.

Why This Film Matters

FASD affects 1 in 20 people yet remains one of the most misunderstood and under-supported developmental disabilities. Emily’s journey brings FASD into the spotlight showing us what life is like for those who live with it, and why federal support is long overdue.

Told through live action and animation, this documentary is both informative and emotionally powerful. By sharing her own real-life stories, it shows how to break down the stigma and calls for compassion over judgment.

Meet Emily Hargrove

Emily Hargrove is a self-advocate from Paducah, Kentucky, living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). In this heartfelt and eye-opening film, Emily sets out to reduce the stigma and build a better community as she fights for the passage of the FASD Respect Act.

About This Film

Status:
The film is being submitted for film festivals with screenings coming in 2026! Stay tuned for updates.

Production Notes:
This was a four-year production… shot in San Diego, Washington DC, Seattle, New York …enlisting over 30 artisans including 5 animators. The film was designed to be shown as a whole or in sections for specific uses.

 

Documentary Short

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and the Search for Compassion

For those seeking a shorter experience, we have produced a documentary short.

Synopsis:  FASD and My Search for Compassion is the personal journey of self-advocate Emily Hargrave as she searches for her Life-giving parents and a better understanding of FASD, a neurological disorder that affects 1 in 20 people. The film, told through live action and animation, illustrates Emily’s journey as she shares her evolution of compassion for others as well as herself. Says Emily: “While some might have anger towards those who gave us life with this disorder, I choose to extend compassion and remove the stigma.”

Awards:

2025 CanFASD – First Place

Status:

The film is under review with several film festivals with more showings planned for 2026. Reach out for more information to arrange a showing near you.

Christie Petrenko, PhD
Executive Producer

Christie is a clinical psychologist and researcher at Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester. She has been working with people with FASD since 2003. Her research focuses on increasing access to care for people with FASD across the lifespan. She also co-directs the FASD Diagnostic and Treatment Service at Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center.

Dr. Petrenko is a Board Member of FASD United. She is a sought-after speaker and trainer in FASD diagnosis and treatment and regularly presents to local, national, and international audiences. She has valued the opportunity to work on this film and discover new ways to address FASD awareness and stigma.

Mike Champlin
Director

Mike has many years of experience working with corporate and Not For Profit customers and is the owner of DeBergerac Productions. He has worked on several documentaries for The University of Rochester Medical Center, The Willow Center, Muscular Dystrophy Association, the ALS Center for Research, and FASD United.

Mike has been a part of the FASD community since 2016 when he first collaborated with Christie Petrenko on a series of videos for her app Families Moving Forward (FMF) Connect. The documentary FASD: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and My Search for Compassion has been a labor of love and Mike is grateful to have been given this opportunity to help Emily share her journey.

About DeBergerac Productions, Inc.

Based in Rochester, New York, the birthplace of film, DeBergerac Productions is a group of passionate media creators in all forms. With over 35 years of documentary experience, the team worked tirelessly to capture the experience what having FASD is like.