Down syndrome definitely has a certain stigma. There are lots of misconceptions surrounding it. Countless myths. That's why so many people are so scared of it. In that spirit, I want to go through the top five myths about Down syndrome and correct them. You likely won't find these answers on Google or in textbooks or at doctors' offices. But I spend 99% of my life with an adorable little girl with Down syndrome, and this is the reality.
Read MoreDid you know that Down syndrome is named after a British doctor named Dr. Down? Or that the earliest known case of Down syndrome traces back to the year 500? Or that today is the absolute best time to have a child with Down syndrome? Keep reading to learn a comprehensive account of the history of Down syndrome -- from the year 500 to the present day.
Read MoreAsk any parent of a young child with Down syndrome, and they would tell you that their biggest worry is speech. An important aspect of speech development is being able to hear well and clearly, and kids with Down syndrome are more likely to have hearing deficits than their typical peers.
Any unresolved hearing loss can further impede speech and language development, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group recommend hearing tests at birth and then every six months up to the age of three for kids with Down syndrome.
Read MoreThere are tons of ways to celebrate WDSD. The list below is just 21 of those ways to give you a head start to preparing and planning for 2020’s World Down Syndrome Day Celebration!
Read MoreHaving your student with Down syndrome included in the general education classroom with proper supports can often seem like a pipe dream. Just look at the statistics: only 16% of our loved ones with intellectual disabilities (ID) are included in general education classrooms most of their school day.
But the research and federal law back up full inclusion with support, so how do we get there? Well, I was lucky enough to find inclusion expert, Nicole Eredics from The Inclusive Class. This amazing inclusion teacher has created a huge database of resources to support full inclusion for even students with Down syndrome. You can also buy her book (shown below) with over 40 modifications for students with the most significant needs.
Read MoreWhen it comes to special needs and Down syndrome, there are literally hundreds of blogs you can follow; From funny, heartfelt and inspirational to educational and knowledge-based. We know how hard it is to find blogs that really pull you in, make you feel a part of the family and leave you waiting anxiously for the next post. We also know that sometimes it’s impossible to find a blog that gives up-to-date information on current happenings or opinions on books and helpful materials. So we decided to make it a little easier for you.
Read MoreIf you haven’t yet seen the movie, you’re missing out. Big time. But don’t just take my word for it. Instead, I turned to the Down syndrome community and asked them to give me one good reason why the public (you if you’re one of the few who has yet to see it) needs to watch The Peanut Butter Falcon. This is what they had to say:
This movie shows what a relationship should be like between an individual with Down syndrome and a typical person. People with Down syndrome want to be treated like everyone else. This type of relationship was beautifully displayed in The Peanut Butter Falcon! - Lauren D.
We have been restructuring our organization, as well as our website, and so we apologize for our delayed absence. Save Down Syndrome’s blog posts will continue to be posted every Monday and we hope that you’ll continue to follow along.
We are so thrilled to share with you all of our accomplishments from 2019 made possible by our fellow advocates and to share our goals for this new year!
Read MoreEarlier this year I wrote an open letter to American Girl with the hopes that they would see how much making a doll with Down syndrome features and characteristics would mean to so many. The only response I received from the company was a generic reply letting me know that they celebrate all kids and are constantly working to show diversity, but they had no immediate plans to create a doll with Down syndrome because they didn’t want to offend the community.
Read MoreFrom talking to a wide number of parents, care-givers, family members, healthcare professionals and the like, recognizing trauma in individuals who are intellectually delayed, or those who may be nonverbal, is a big concern; “What if something happens and we can’t tell?,” “What if they can’t express what’s going on and it continues?” The list of questions and concerns over this one topic are endless and I’ll admit, I’ve thought about it myself. As a mother of a daughter who has Down syndrome, the very last thing I want to think about is the possibility of some kind of abuse occurring and my daughter unable to tell me about it.
So what can we do? We educate ourselves on the signs and symptoms of abuse and the steps we take if it does occur.
Read More"This is a common misconception about all kids with disabilities, that they can’t or won’t learn, especially if they are non-verbal. When the most amazing teacher came in to the FLS class last year, she saw these kids as who they really were, and within one year of this new teacher, every single kid in the class grew leaps and bounds. Julia, who also has Down syndrome and had never been able to communicate now was pointing to “yes” and “no” cards, and making decisions for herself. That gave her so much confidence that she soon became the sassiest teenager I’ve ever met, sneaking out of the room when no one was looking and licking folders when she didn’t want to do her class job. But the biggest change was in Josue.”
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