Middle School Age

Resources for your middle-school age child

Foster Independence

As difficult as it is to let go of control, it is important to work toward developing independence skills for your teenager at home and at school. Increasing the amount of chores and independent tasks that are expected to be completed as the individual becomes older leads not only to […]

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Puberty and Sexuality

According the NDSS, children with Down syndrome experience the same sequence of physical and hormonal changes associated with puberty as other children their age. However, there is often a lag in the development of social maturity, emotional self-control, social communication, abstract thinking and problem solving abilities. And, all people with […]

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Planning for the Secondary Transition in Middle School

The secondary transition is a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that is designed with a result-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities. These activities […]

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Making Sense Of Sensory Processing

Sensory input pervades our everyday lives. It is how we make sense of the world and interact with the world around us. It is how we learn new skills and participate in play, school, work, and self-care. We have 7 different sensory systems that our brain must integrate in order […]

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Children with Down Syndrome are Often Underestimated

Many children with Down syndrome understand a lot but aren’t able to express it. This can lead to fewer friends and long-term language deficits. Read more on Science Nordic

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Optimizing Neurodevelopment in Individuals with Down Syndrome

The Day 1 Keynote presentation from the Down Syndrome Research Foundation’s 20th Anniversary conference, “From Good to Great: Enhancing Quality of Life for People with Down Syndrome,” Oct. 23-24, 2015, Vancouver, BC.

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Educational Resources

While children with Down syndrome do have developmental delays, it is important to understand that there are ways to help them develop and improve cognitive skills. It is important to start early and to develop a plan and a schedule for the education of your child. Down Syndrome Education International […]

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Health Supervision

Your pediatrician will be an important source of information and support in caring for your child. It will be important for your pediatrician to be aware of the diagnosis and to be prepared to help with caring for a child with Down syndrome. To help your pediatrician prepare for the […]

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