How to Educate Children With Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that impairs physical and emotional development. While children with Down syndrome may be limited in their ability to lead normal lives, they can still respond to a proper education.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Educate children with Down syndrome with a program of early intervention. As soon as a child is born with Down syndrome, plans should be made for enrollment in speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and early-childhood education. This will be a vital step in developing language and motor skills in children with Down syndrome by the time they are old enough to attend school.

2. Decide whether you want to educate a child with Down syndrome in a special school for impaired children or place her in a school with children who do not have physical or mental impairments. This will depend upon the health of the child and how well early intervention programs help the child to develop learning and communication skills.

3. Place a child with Down syndrome in a learning environment that does not restrict their progress. Children with Down syndrome often do well in school, and a few may even go on to college. By placing them in an environment that allows them to interact with other children, they will prepare to make the transition to adulthood and independent living.

4. Work with school administrators, school psychiatrists, teachers and parents to create an individualized education program (IEP). By law, children with physical or mental impairments must be given a chance to thrive and excel academically. Children who are enrolled in IEP programs are usually assigned aides to help them participate and succeed in an academic environment.

5. Encourage a child with Down syndrome to develop occupational skills through additional vocational training once they become older. Many programs teach children with Down syndrome how to function independently once they reach adulthood.

Tips & Warnings

• Any physical conditions common to children with Down syndrome should be taken into consideration before you implement a learning plan. Children with Down syndrome may be susceptible to congenital heart defects, poor vision and hearing, pulmonary hypertension, obesity and even childhood leukemia.

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[southernotmom]

on 8/1/2009 Good article except step 2. Realize that early intervention (EI) services are a part of part C of the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) that serve children from birth to age 3 years. EI services occur in the natural environment and the caregivers and/or parents are taught techniques. So it is not really the EI program helping the child that controls what happens next in the child's education. It is often the child's parental involvement, medical status, and cognitive capabilities. If the parents do not work with the child, the child will not make as much progress. After all, the parent is with the child for much more of the day than those of us who are therapists. Also, not every child with Down Syndrome needs every therapy you listed. I have worked with some kids with Down Syndrome that speak great and can use their hand muscles age appropriately. However, it is ver...

[akchrist]

on 6/7/2008 Great article! My daughter has Down Syndrome and is now 15 and I wish I knew than what I know know.