As we begin to wrap up our ten part mini series: Understanding Special Needs, we will be talking about children with Down Syndrome. Even though most public schools have a specialized class for children with this disability, most teachers still need to know the basics of teaching a child with Down Syndrome.
Let’s start with the statistics. . .
- Down Syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition.
- One in every 691 children in the United States are born with Down Syndrome
- In the United States, there are 400,000 people living with Down Syndrome
What exactly is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is caused by a chromosomal abnormality which results in 47 instead of the usual 46 chromosomes. Some characteristics of Down Syndrome include: poor muscle tone, slanting eyes with folds of skin at the inner corners, hyper-flexibility, short & broad hands, flat bridge of the nose, short neck, small head, and a small oral cavity.
Besides having a distinct physical appearance, children with Down Syndrome frequently have specific health related problems. Children with Down Syndrome may have a tendency to become obese as they grow older, so a supervised diet and exercise program may help reduce this problem.
What can teachers do to help?
Parents should be encouraged to enroll their child in a development/early intervention program. Research has shown that stimulation during early developmental stages improves the child's chances of developing to his or her fullest potential. Due to individual differences, the range of ability in children with Down Syndrome, all members of the school’s education team should place few limitations on potential capabilities. It may be effective to emphasize concrete concepts rather than abstract ideas.
Be sure to teach tasks in a step-by-step manner with frequent reinforcement and consistent feedback has proven successful.
*Research was taken from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
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