In this section, you will find 2 types of resources:

• Helpful educational tools and resources for children with Down syndrome

• Information about special education rights and IEPs

Overview - a Road to Success 

School Readiness

Universal Design for Learning - UDL

Educational Supports

Handwriting

Reading

Happy To Learn - A Teaching Program (Cost: $110/year for materials and tutorials)

 So Happy to Learn IS a philosophy; a change of mindset, a paradigm shift from traditional teaching. It IS a series of techniques, approaches, and simple tools to instill a love of reading, writing and math in your learner. It IS a revolutionary teaching program for both special and typical learners alike.

While the program started exclusively to teach children with Down syndrome, it's being quickly embraced by the autism community. It can also help children with a wide array of learning challenges, and can even help give your typical pre-schooler a head-start. The program can be implemented by moms, educators and everyone in between. You don't need a teaching degree to tap into your learner's abilities; in fact, teachers are going to have to work hard to change their ways from testing to focusing solely on teaching!

Step-by-step instructions with detailed information are provided for each aspect of the program. Extensive libraries of tutorial videos are in place to help teachers. A large archive of Happy Sheet packets (worksheets) is also available for the Beginner, Level 1 and Level 2. In addition, new packets are uploaded each month to provide fresh and relevant content for your learner. 

The primary goals of So Happy to Learn are that the learner will:

      -read and enjoy reading,

      -write and enjoy writing,

     - understand and enjoy using basic math concepts.

Most importantly... the learner will enjoy learning! 

Learning Numbers and Math

Working Memory

Down syndrome Education International Programs

Supports for remote learning

Recommended Apps

The Individualized Education Plan

What is an IEP?

The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a very important and powerful document that outlines a child's goals and services. It provides many legal protections for a student with specialized educational needs. Learning about the IEP process, including your child's rights, is very important. 

Check out these resources to prepare for your child's IEP meeting

IEP and 504 nuts and bolts

Preparing for your IEP

Preparing a Personal Profile to introduce your child

IEP and Me Videos

Learning Profile and Curriculum Adaptations

Curriculum Adaptation 

Simplify, Supplement, Alter 

There is no magic formula for adapting your classroom curriculum for your students with Down syndrome. Each student’s needs are unique. The process is simple, but it does require that all team members work collaboratively. 

Subtle adaptations - Subtle accommodations to daily work will assist your student without drawing attention to the adaptation. For instance, textbooks with the same cover but different contents will minimize the variation. 

Same timetable/same subject - Materials and methods may vary but if all students work on the same subject matter at the same time a student’s sense of competence will increase. 

Allow adequate response time. Some students need time to process your question. Be patient. 

Visual accommodations work best for your students with Down syndrome. Visual schedules may help compensate for memory difficulties. 

Gross Motor Skills 

Desk height - It is important that all children have a comfortable workspace. It is especially important for a child with low muscle tone because proper support will help to alleviate fatigue. 

Foot Support - Check to see that your student’s feet are not dangling from his chair but rather resting flat on the floor. Proper foot stability will not only lessen fatigue but will also provide trunk support. 

Hypotonia- Low muscle tone may affect some body parts more than others. A student with Down syndrome may have difficulty sitting for an extended time on a floor without proper back support. Provide something to lean against. “W” sitting should be discouraged as it stresses joints in the knees and hips. Please consult with your student’s Physical Therapist for suggestions on increasing gross motor skill development. 

Fine Motor Skills 

Several factors may affect the fine motor skill development of children with Down syndrome. 

Low muscle tone, or hypotonia 

Shortened limbs - hands may be 10 to 30% shorter 

Ligament or joint instability T

These factors may contribute to difficulty with small muscle activities such as handwriting. In addition, children with Down syndrome may have wrist bones that develop more slowly, decreased skin sensation or a delay in the maturation of the palmar reflex. Please consult with your student’s Occupational Therapist for suggestions on developing these skills 

A Word About Hugs 

As with all children, it is also important to help children with Down syndrome learn appropriate social boundaries. Although hugging your teacher is encouraged in the early grades, children need to learn when this has become inappropriate and how to replace hugging with more appropriate social gestures. A hand shake, pat on the back, high 5, thumbs up sign, etc are all great replacements to hugging. Consult your student’s Occupational Therapist for sensory diet needs 

IEP Advocacy and Support

Training and Education

• DREDF trains and educate people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities about their rights under state and federal disability rights laws so they can use the laws as tools to challenge exclusion and discrimination, and advocate effectively for full participation in the lives of their communities.

• They also educate lawyers, service providers, government officials, and many others about disability civil rights laws and policies

• For over two decades they have operated a disability rights legal clinic in collaboration with law schools in the San Francisco Bay Area including Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.

Legal Advocacy

• DREDF represents clients in leading edge disability rights litigation

• They serve as co–counsel and prepare amicus curiae briefs on behalf of parties that include disability community representatives and members of Congress in disability rights cases heard by the U.S. Supreme Court

• They advocate for the legal rights of individuals and families

Public Policy and Legislative Development

• DREDF staff design and carry out strategies that strengthen public policy and that lead to the enactment of federal and state laws protecting and advancing civil rights for people with disabilities such as the Handicapped Children’s Protection Act, the Civil Rights Restoration Act, the landmark 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, and the IDEA Amendments Act.

FREE trainings for parents and professionals - Sign up here

Sample letters - Check out sample letters here