Down Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Down Syndrome, including details on education, symptoms, treatment, information.

Recommended Books on Down Syndrome

Worksheets! For Teaching Social Thinking and Related Skills: Breaking Down Concepts for Teaching Students with High Functioning Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Pdd-nos, Nonverbal Learning Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Adhd This book consists of 250 worksheets specifically designed to offer more lessons in teaching social thinking that dovetail both off the lessons discussed in all of Michelle G. Winners other books: Inside Out: What Makes the Person With Social Cognitive Deficits Tick? Thinking About You Thinking About Me, and the Think Social! A Social Thinking Curriculum for School Age Students. These lessons are in addition to most of the information in these other three books. The worksheets help to create a lesson plan, defining how to break down concepts for students to explore and they can used directly with students. The worksheets can be copied and sent to parents and other professionals to give an idea of what the student is learning and how to carry the concept over in their own environments. There are some worksheets for children Kindergarten through 2nd grade, the majority of the worksheets are for students in 3rd grade and higher, many of the worksheets are for middle and high school students; the ideas can be used with adults as well. Each worksheet page is coded for the recommended age group it targets.

Learn to Move, Move to Learn: Sensorimotor Early Childhood Activity Themes Each of the creative theme-based group lessons in this practical resource follows a sensory-integrated developmental sequence consisting of seven activities, all related to the theme. For maximum flexibility, suggestions for adaptation and modification for individual students are included, along with instructions for how to develop additional lessons. Finally, a chapter on school readiness skills shows how the lessons prepare children for later success in school.

My Up & Down & All Around Book Where is up, where is down? Are you in your house or out? Is your friend standing in front of the tree or behind it?

These are just a few phrases that MY UP & DOWN & ALL AROUND BOOK inspires. Playful, color photographs by Marjorie Pitzer in the style of her popular I CAN, CAN YOU? board book help introduce many of the most frequently used prepositions--words that tell something about location or time.

Children with Down syndrome who typically experience speech and language delays can take longer to master the use of prepositions than their peers. Kids up to age six will love this little book, and so will their parents who know that it offers fun and practice!

Page spreads feature opposites--Before and After; Above and Below, for example--and corresponding pictures of toddlers and preschoolers with Down syndrome illustrate the concept behind the words. At the end of the book, a section written by Libby Kumin, speech-language pathologist and author, provides parents, teachers, and therapists with tips on how to expand their child's language skills, using the words in sentences, and tailoring the book to a particular child's needs.

Take this sturdy board book to school, to the park, or in the car. Families and classmates will have hours of fun reading the book aloud and thinking up phrases that use these key words...
Did you ride your bike before lunch or after?
Is my hat on or off?
Are you sitting next to your buddy or in between two friends?

Angel Unaware: A Touching Story of Love and Loss Entertainers Roy and Dale Evans Rogers were thrilled when their little daughter Robin was born. But their excitement turned to concern when they were informed that Robin was born with Down's Syndrome and advised to "put her away." The Rogers ignored such talk and instead kept Robin, and she graced their home for two and a half years. Though Robin's time on earth was short, she changed her parents' lives and even made life better for other children born with special needs in the years to come. Angel Unaware is Robin's account of her life as she looks down from heaven. As she speaks to God about the mission of love she just completed on earth, the reader sees how she brought her parents closer to God and encouraged them to help other children in need. This book, which changed the way America treated children with special needs, is now available to a new generation. It is the perfect gift for parents of special needs children, parents grieving the death of a child, or anyone whose life has been touched by a special child.

We'll Paint the Octopus Red Six-year-old Emma has big dreams for her new baby brother. But when she learns that he has Down syndrome, she worries that he won't be able to do many of the fun things she's imagined they'd do together. This is a reassuring story for young children as well as parents adjusting to Down syndrome and what it means for their relationship with their sibling or child. It concludes with helpful questions and answers for children about Down syndrome.

Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges (2007 Independent Publisher Award, Bronze Medalist in Psychology/Mental Health category) (2006 ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award: Finalist in Psychology Category) (2006 Best Books Book Awards, Psychology/Mental Health Finalist)

In this groundbreaking book, the founding directors of the Adult Down Syndrome Center of Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois the first and premier facility of its type in North America share nearly 30 years of combined experience treating more than 3,000 adolescents and adults with Down syndrome aged 12 to 83. MENTAL WELLNESS is an invaluable resource for parents, mental health professionals, teachers and caregivers who want to understand better how to promote mental health and resolve psychosocial problems in people with Down syndrome.

This authoritative, easy-to-read guide clarifies what are the common behavioral characteristics of Down syndrome, how some can be mistaken for mental illness, and what are the bona fide mental health problems that occur more commonly in people with Down syndrome. As McGuire and Chicoine describe these traits and mental health issues, they also explain, through detailed observations and case studies based on their patients, how parents, caregivers and adults with Down syndrome can work together to foster mental wellness. In addition, the authors discuss the importance of regular assessment and how behavior and mental well-being can be affected by environmental conditions, social opportunities, and physical health.

The first section of the book offers a wealth of knowledge and insight about typical behavioral traits of Down syndrome and how to work with them to encourage mental wellness on a day-to-day basis. Topics include:

Community and Family Support
Self-Talk and Imaginary Friends
Communication-Related Problems
Memory Strengths and Deficits
Emotional Development
Tendencies Toward Sameness and Repetition
Self-Esteem and Self-Image
Lifespan Issues

The second section on mental illness includes chapters on such conditions as:

Depression and Other Mood Disorders
Anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Tic Disorders
Repetitive Movements
AD/HD and Other Impulse Control Issues
Autism
Alzheimer disease

In each case, the authors describe the problem signs, the diagnostic process and a range of treatment options, such as counseling, behavioral therapy and medications.

Now, thanks to MENTAL WELLNESS, readers all over the world can pay a virtual visit to the Adult Down Syndrome Center and benefit from the insight and expertise of Drs. McGuire and Chicoine. Anyone who knows or cares for an adult with Down syndrome will undoubtedly understand them better after reading this guide.

Classroom Language Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Teachers (Topics in Down Syndrome) Language is the foundation for learning and school success. This is true for all students, including children with Down syndrome. Inclusive school settings provide children with Down syndrome great opportunities to improve their communication development— speaking, writing, listening, and following spoken instructions. But these same opportunities create real challenges for them because of wide-ranging skill levels and abilities in language and speech.

Libby Kumin, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a leading expert on Down syndrome and its impact on communication development. Her new book covers every aspect of a child's language needs in school from kindergarten- age through early adolescence. Early chapters provide an overview of the characteristic communication problems associated with Down syndrome, their underlying causes, and how they can affect a child in school. Later, the book explains how to address communication needs directly in a child's IEP, and then goes into detail about the best strategies for adapting school work and teacher-student communication in an inclusive classroom.

CLASSROOM LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME emphasizes the crucial role teachers and speech-language pathologists play. It explains how to make adaptations to curriculum, verbal instruction, classroom routines, and written assignments. The book discusses ways to enhance social communication between children with Down syndrome and other students during class, lunch, and recess. Also covered is the use of augmentative communication methods for children with Down syndrome who are non-verbal or rarely use speech.

As an added bonus, there are numerous forms and checklists for parents such as an IEP planner, home-school communication tips, samples of visual prompts, graphic organizers, and worksheet adaptations. Overall, this guide offers parents an in-depth overview of their child's language skills in school, while providing teachers and SLPs with useful ideas and adaptations that will help them meet the communication needs of their students with Down syndrome.

Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Topics in Down ... in Down Syndrome) (Topics in Down Syndrome) (2007 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award: Finalist, Parenting; 2008 NAPPA Honors Award)

Parents of children with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities are accustomed to paying close attention to their child's physical, cognitive, and emotional development. This proactive approach should also include their child's sexual development, which for many parents may not seem as obvious or urgent, especially to those with young children.

Drawing on her unique background as both a sexual educator and mother of a child with Down syndrome, the author blends factual information and practical ideas for teaching children with Down syndrome about their bodies, puberty, and sexuality. This book gives parents the confidence to speak comfortably about these sometimes difficult subjects.

In an easy-to-read, non-clinical style, the book covers relevant issues and concerns for children of all ages, such as:
Labeling & explaining private body parts;

Identifying & expressing emotions;

Respecting personal space;

Teaching self-care & hygiene;

Understanding norms of privacy;

Understanding gender identity;

Showing appropriate levels of affection.

It also covers later issues that affect teenagers and young adults, including:
Anticipating and understanding puberty;

Dealing with periods, bras for girls;

Experiencing erections, wet dreams for boys;

Relating to the opposite sex;

Sharing parental values about sexuality;

Explaining sexual relationships;

Preventing sexual abuse;

Understanding how Down syndrome affects puberty & fertility rates.

Each chapter highlights important points with key messages, teaching activities, parental pauses, and anecdotes, all of which prompt readers to stop and consider concepts or values associated with a particular topic. The final chapter covers the special concerns of parents who are now teaching teenaged or adult children about sexuality for the first time. It concludes with extensive appendices containing invaluable teaching materials and illustrations of body parts and functions.

I Can, Can You? Babies and toddlers with Down syndrome, like all young children, want to discover their world and take on new experiences. I CAN, CAN YOU? is a delightful board book full of babies and toddlers with Down syndrome going about the business of their lives. Presented in crisp, uncluttered, full-color photographs, these children swim, take a bottle, share, eat spaghetti, laugh, play in the park, and more…looking adorable while doing it!

I CAN, CAN YOU? is the perfect book for parents and children to enjoy together. As your child sits on your lap and you read to him, he'll see other children with Down syndrome modelling some things he can do and some which he will soon do. Reinforce your child's abilities ("Look at the baby holding her own bottle. You can do that!") and encourage the possibilities ("Do you see the baby taking off his socks? Can you pull off your socks? I'm sure you can!"). What's more, as your read to your child and as he plays with the book and turns the pages, he will gain important pre-reading skills.

This wonderful book will be reassuring to families with a new baby with Down syndrome and makes a great gift. Daycare centers, hospitals, infant-toddler programs, libraries, pediatric practices, and support groups will want to have I CAN, CAN YOU? available for the families they serve.

My Friend Isabelle My Friend Isabelle is a wonderful little book that teaches about difference and acceptance with simplicity and grace. Isabelle and Charlie are friends. They are the same age, but like most friends, they are different: Charlie is tall and knows "a lot of words," and Isabelle is short and sometimes her words are, "hard to understand." The sweet simplicity of their relationship is a reminder to everyone that "differences are what make the world so great." Young readers will love the bold illustrations and simple text, and parents will appreciate the message and the sensitivity with which it is delivered. At the end of the story readers meet the real Isabelle, and author Eliza Woloson briefly notes how Down syndrome makes her daughter and other children special. --Daphne Durham(2004 iParenting Media Award Winner) Isabelle and Charlie are friends. They both like to draw, dance, read, and play at the park. They both like to eat Cheerios. They both cry if their feelings are hurt. And, like most friends, they are also different from each other. Isabelle has Down syndrome. Charlie doesn't. Written by Isabelle's mother, this charming tale encourages readers to think about what makes a friendship special. MY FRIEND ISABELLE also opens the door for young children to talk about differences and the world around them. It's a wonderful story to read at bedtime or to share at school. Lively full color illustrations dovetail beautifully with the text to bring the simple story to life.

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