On January 29th, 135 educators, therapists, and parents attended the “Practical Solutions for Educating Students with Down Syndrome” workshop sponsored by DSACT to better understand how to successfully engage, instruct and enjoy students with Down syndrome. 

Representatives from over 25 school districts or service providers attended: Austin, Bastrop, Comal, Eanes, Easter Seals, Edinburg, Garden Ridge, Georgetown, Geronimo, Hays County Consolidated, Health South, Hutto, Lake Travis, Leander, Lockhart, Marble Falls, Navarro, New Braunfels, NYOS, Pflugerville, Round Rock,  San Antonio, San Antonio Down  Syndrome Association, San Marcos, Schertz-Cibolo-Univeral City, and Texas Parent to Parent.

The workshop provided an overview of the specific learning needs characteristic of students with Down syndrome, including tips, strategies and solutions relevant to pre-school through high school, including how to open the lines of communication with students and parents; ways to promote independence; behavior modification strategies and alternatives to reward systems; how to promote friendships; and effective IEP goals.

Central Texas educators and service providers gave the workshop glowing reviews:

• “This was the best seminar I have attended!  The information will be so helpful in my classroom!”
• “We need more seminars on Down syndrome.”
• “I had such a great time listening to your presentation! This was wonderful and it was so worth it to miss work to come.  Thank you!”
• “Awesome!  Great practical stuff.  I’m just 1 year into this and loved the info!”
• “I thought the material in the presentation was fabulous, helpful, and practical. She is a very good public speaker!”
• “I thought all of the parent input was fantastic. It’s all presented in an easy-to-follow manner, with high energy.  I’m really excited about taking this back to my school.  Thank you!”
• “I would love to have a presentation for all the life skills teachers (at least) from our district!”
• “I wish this seminar could come to our district for the community and parents that have a child with Down syndrome!”
• “Loved the presentation.  Please come back soon to Austin to make another presentation.”
• “Can’t wait to take this info back to my team.”
• “Wonderful information!  Great presentation! I wish all of our team (school too!) had been able to attend.  So much info to share!”
• “Excellent!  Will have my staff present some of this at our next meeting to other teachers and service providers.”

Mark your calendars now for the next DSACT educational seminars:

Working Together to Educate and Include Students with Down Syndrome, July 14, 2009 - Teacher workshop co-sponsored by DSACT, Austin ISD, and ESC Region 13

Back to School tools, August or September 2009
Workshop for parents of children with Down syndrome