Why is Down Syndrome important in education?

Down syndrome is a very important part of the education field because they have a lot to offer educationally and socially. Teachers believe that students with down syndrome will benefit from being in inclusion classes because they think socialization will be better for them and their own peers (Bills & Mills, 2020). When having general education students in the same class as those with a disability, such as down syndrome, it prevents the negative stereotype thoughts because “normal” students have been exposed to those with a disability (Bills & Mills, 2020). Students may feel weird being in a classroom with someone that has down syndrome because of how they look or because they aren’t the same as them, however, it is also because students don’t have the correct knowledge about their peers with down syndrome. By giving students the correct knowledge about DS, they would feel more comfortable in being in an inclusion class with those who have disabilities, like down syndrome, and their characteristics of their diagnosis (Campbell et al., 2003).

In what ways as educators are we able to provide accurate education?

There is always room for improvement in the education field, as well as always figuring out in what ways we can make the education field better and more knowledgeable for our students in general education and special education. To start with, we should better educate teachers on down syndrome and provide them with resources they are able to give their students with Down Syndrome in order for them to be successful in school. Wishart and Manning (1996) examined a questionnaire completed by students who were in their third year of college which aimed for their knowledge on down syndrome, their experiences with those that have down syndrome, whether their courses would prepare them for teaching those with down syndrome, their views and lastly their attitudes towards those that have down syndrome. Bills and Mills (2020) reported that teachers would love to have down syndrome students in their class but were nervous to have them in their class due to lack of knowledge and not having the right amount of experience in order to provide them instruction. More ways that we can provide those with down syndrome would be making sure that they’re getting Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that are based on their needs for education support as well as support staff to help with those that are in inclusion classes (Bills & Mills, 2020). Van Herwegen et al. (2018), concluded in their findings from Parental Views on Special Education needs provision: cross-syndrome comparisons in Williams Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, that parents to think that staff should be more trained on the knowledge of down syndrome, as well as the communication should be better between parents and staff and communicating which support is needed for those students.

What did we learn?

Those with Down syndrome are very different from those that are in general education, but they should still be given the same opportunity because it can help with educational and social skills that would benefit them in the future. Bills and Mills (2020) stated in their conclusion that teachers who feel comfortable teaching those with down syndrome and believe that students with down syndrome will succeed, then that will allow teachers to feel comfortable in speaking up with getting more students with disabilities in inclusion class settings. Children with disabilities, like down syndrome, are very smart and capable of doing many things if led in the right direction. Parents can also be a great source of support and being able to guide parents on things their child needs educationally. Not only should those with down syndrome be given equal opportunity, they should also be a part of general education because they will be able to learn better literacy that is accurate compared to those that are not in general education classes (Antonarakis et al, 2020). Children with down syndrome are very smart and can do a lot of things independently if they are given the opportunity to shine. 

Test Your Knowledge:

1. Which of the following options is the best definition of down syndrome?

a.  An intellectual disability

b. Learning Disability

c.  Disease

d. All the above

2.  Out of the choices below, which of the following is the best option to support and accurately teach a student with down syndrome?

a.  Creating IEPs that suit every student and that would work well for those with down syndrome.

b. Not communicating with parents to prevent them from taking over their child’s educational needs.

c.  Educate teachers on down syndrome and provide them with resources they are able to give their students with Down Syndrome in order for them to be successful in school.

d. Not care and do what others believe is best for those with down syndrome and provide the same instruction that a teacher would in general education.