Professional Development

When providing college and career counseling to people with Down’s Syndrome, strengths, abilities, and interests should be considered just as with any other client. People who have Down’s Syndrome may have difficulty with communication and social skills, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have the skills or abilities to succeed in their ideal career. People with Down syndrome might benefit from having tasks broken down into small steps with clear instructions, so by role playing or using show and tell method of training, they might get experience by watching and learning, and then by doing the task themselves (NDSS, 2020). With guidance, encouragement and practice, clients with Down Syndrome can become more confident and independent at work, so sessions included training on how to get clients familiar with the routines and responsibilities of working. I also become a bit more familiar with any support systems and job offerings that have hired people with Down’s Syndrome in the past and are able to make reasonable exceptions and provide appropriate training to help them to adjust and succeed. For example, employers that allow or provide mentors, work buddies, or support workers can help the person with Down Syndrome to transition into their new workspace, and can also oversee how they are progressing, and help them with questions and concerns (NDSS, 2020).

Reference:

National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). (2020). Employment and volunteer work. NDSS. Retrieved, from https://www.ndss.org/resources/employment-and-volunteer-work/