Education
DSG offers a variety of services to help families and schools. One of the primary ways we help is to provide educational seminars with local and national speakers on best practices in special education. We have featured topics such as "Teaching Reading to Children With Down syndrome", "Oral Motor Therapy for Children with Down syndrome", "Inclusion", "Positive Behavior Supports" and more. Each year DSG will host educational events to draw families and educational professionals to learn from experts in the field of education.
When requested, DSG also offers para professional and teacher trainings tailored to each schools needs. Trainings can be as short as 30 minutes or as long as 3 hours based on what the school is asking DSG to cover. Common topics for presentations include: behavioral supports, curriculum adaptations, environmental adaptations, how to create a circle of friends, suggestions for IEP goals, and ways to teach children with Down syndrome effectively.
DSG also offers interactive peer presentations. The Director will read a book to classmates entitled "Taking Down Syndrome to School". This book identifies the many similarities between typical students and those with Down syndrome. It also identifies a few of the small differences that may occur and why they really aren't all that important. The book is gifted to the school library from DSG so students can check it out at a later date if they would like to do so. Students are encouraged to ask questions and to participate in hands on activities that will help them understand what it may be like to have Down syndrome. Families who provide photos and stories can also receive a personalized copy of the Myths and Truths about Down syndrome which can go home in each child's back pack to educate their parents.
DSG has hosted several luncheons for local Special Education Directors to help promote partnerships between parents and schools. We will continue to meet with Directors to provide them with any materials and resources we have that will help teachers and school districts to continue on the path toward inclusion. The Directors input will be integral to DSG's continued development of the website to add information and educational resources for families and schools to access.
DSG also provides awareness materials such as posters, pamphlets, bookmarks, and stickers to anyone requesting them. It has been said that "a picture is worth a thousand words". DSG will continue to disseminate positive materials with positive affirmations to create broader awareness of Down syndrome.
DSG will collaborate with the National Down Syndrome Congress to celebrate National Inclusive Schools Week in December of each year. Packets will be sent to local school districts with information on Inclusion, posters, and materials for creative ways to support an inclusive educational setting.
DSG launched a newsletter in 2005 called "Inclusion Solutions", This newsletter is designed for educators to assist them in their efforts to support students with Down syndrome. The newsletter will go out regularly throughout the year and address a variety of things from behavioral support, communication helps, people first language, curriculum adaptation, stories submitted by teachers and paras, and information on how schools can request presentations by DSG.
DSG launched the Down Syndrome Specialist Program in 2005. The DSG partners with local school districts and asks them to name a specialist that will provide support and resources on Down syndrome to teachers in their district. Each specialist is provided with a resource manual, receives free registration to all DSG educational conferences, is added to all DSG mailing lists and receives regular updates on best practices regarding educating students with Down syndrome.
