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In this episode of Stories from Foster Care, Niamh is talking to Andrea Reilly. Andrea is a passionate advocate for other young people, particularly those with lived experience in care.

Andrea is committed to shining a light on the misunderstood, under-acknowledged and under-diagnosed condition of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) by speaking from her own lived experience of it. As a key member of EPIC (Empowering People in Care) she focuses specifically on FASD and care experience, and on Aftercare.

In an inspiring conversation Andrea reflects in-depth on her experience of living with FASD, stepping into the role of advocate, how Aftercare provision needs to change, and the role her foster mother in particular has played in her development.

She mentioned the following organisations:

FASD Ireland (national conference takes place on May 22, 2025) https://www.fasdireland.ie/

EPIC – https://www.epiconline.ie/

Stories from Foster Care is a podcast series from The Irish Foster Care Association, subscribe now on Spotify at the following link https://open.spotify.com/show/2V0EH1oh4wG4WrSn6Kr6Xv?si=aa2fa635e6f94477

About the podcast – Stories from Foster Care is brought to you by the Irish Foster Care Association in association with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Join host Niamh Barrett as she meets people from all walks of life who have different experiences of foster care in Ireland. Listen to Stories from Foster Care on Spotify, Apple, Nearcast or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe for all the latest episodes.

The music on this podcast is a track called Pastures by Ketsa, the music appears here under a Creative Commons Licence. Stories from Foster Care is made with the Near FM podcast network. For more information and how to get involved visit https://nearcast.ie/get-involved/