Never underestimate your child’s capacity for learning. Always presume competence!
The MCDSIG community can support you in your journey to help your child get access to the best education possible — beginning with Early Intervention through high school.
This section offers information about the MCDSIG Learning Program that trains parents as first teachers to their child. We also have links to important resources on literacy, math, inclusion, IEPs and more.
The MCDSIG Learning Program (TLP)™ is a research-based literacy and math curriculum that was developed based on how kids with Down syndrome learn. The goal of TLP is to empower parents as advocates for their children and improve academic outcomes. The curriculum was developed by the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County (DSFOC), California. MCDSIG licenses the curriculum from DSFOC.
Inclusive education is educating ALL students in age-appropriate general education classes in their neighborhood schools. It incorporates high quality instruction, interventions and supports so all students can be successful in the core curriculum. Inclusive schools have a collaborative and respectful school culture where students with disabilities are presumed to be competent, develop positive social relationships with peers, and are fully participating members of the school community.
Extended School Year (ESY) services are designed to support a student with a disability as documented under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to maintain the academic, social/behavioral, communication or other skills that they have learned as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 accommodation plan.
Every child who receives special education services has an Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA states that children with disabilities be provided a free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Kids from age 3 through high school graduation or a maximum age of 22 (whichever comes first) may be eligible for an IEP.
As parents we want to make sure our school environment is accepting and understanding of our child. Many parents use “Down Syndrome Awareness Month (October)” and “World Down Syndrome Day (March 21)” as a way to explain Down syndrome and celebrate differences in the classroom.