DSACT For Educators

Welcome to the Educators Page!

In its reauthorization of IDEA, Congress noted that “30 years of research and experience has demonstrated that the education of children with disabilities can be made more effective by having high expectations,” and stated that all children are entitled to a free appropriate public education which is designed to “prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.”

By visiting this website, you have demonstrated your interest in enhancing the lives and educational experiences of all students with Down syndrome so that they are prepared to lead productive adult lives in the community. The Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT) appreciates your interest and thanks you for your efforts. DSACT is the only organization in the Central Texas region which focuses exclusively on the needs of individuals with Down syndrome, including education.

Because of specialized services and a dramatic shift in our culture, individuals with Down syndrome are more fully included in schools, the community and workforce today than ever before. Individuals with Down syndrome can and do achieve great things:

Emma Corrigan was reading before she entered kindergarten;
Ryan Teed recently gave the commencement address at his high school;
A college degree is now attainable by many;
Career pursuits are satisfied (Patricia Moody was the first individual with a disability to be hired as a teacher’s aide in her local school district; Craig Blackburn travels the U.S. as a motivational speaker and selfadvocate);
Athletic dreams are captured (Karen Gaffney swam Lake Tahoe and a relay of the English Channel); and
Meaningful, lifelong personal relationships are fulfilled (the wedding of Carrie Bergeron and Sujeet Desai was featured on programs such as The View and Oprah).

Our hope is that the enclosed materials will provide information, tips, and materials that you can use in your classrooms. As you plan your approach to teaching students with Down syndrome, we ask that you focus on their ABILITIES versus disabilities. If you believe people with Down syndrome can learn, they will!

Further Reading

Inclusion and Modification of the Curriculum
Bunch, Gary. The Basics: Supporting Learners with Intellectual Challenge in Regular Classrooms: A Resource for Teachers.Toronto: Inclusion Press, 2006. *
A resource for teachers, the fundamental premise of this book is that good teaching is good teaching for all students. This book attempts to reduce teacher’s anxieties and addresses making adjustments to what you already know in order to effectively instruct all students. www.inclusion.com

Bunch, Gary. Inclusion: How To Essential Classroom Strategies.Toronto: Canada. Inclusion Press, 1999.*
Inclusion: How To is a handbook for every school teacher. In straight forward language, Dr. Bunch outlines proven strategies that work in real classrooms. Without pretension, the book references known research that gives authority to these strategies.

Gould, Patti and J. Sullivan. The Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom: Easy Ways to Adapt Learning Centers for All Children.Beltsville: Gryphon House, 1999.*

Tien, Barbara and C. Hall. Effective Teaching Strategies for Successful Inclusion: A Focus on Down Syndrome. Calgary: PREP, 1999.*
This book focuses on methods to teach students with Down syndrome to maximize their inclusion. Electronic version available at www.prepprog.org.

Vandercook, Terri et al. Lessions for Inclusion. Toronto: Canada. Inclusion Press. 1994.*
Assists teachers of elementary and middle school children to develop a classroom community in which all children feel good about themselves and work together as valued members. Specific lessons are provided. www.inclusion.com.

Math
Horstmeier, DeAnna. Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome and Other HandsOn Learners.Bethesda: Woodbine House, 2004. *
A guide to teaching meaningful math skills by capitalizing on visual learning styles. Covers introductory math skills, but may also help older students who struggle with math concepts.

Reading
Oelwein, Patricia. Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Teachers. Bethesda: Woodbine House, 1995. *
This step-by-step guide to reading allows parents to work with their child at home and helps them coordinate reading lessons with teachers.
Motor Skills
Bruni, Maryanne. Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, Second Edition.Bethesda: Woodbine House, 2006. *
A practical guide to understanding and developing fine motor skills in children with Down syndrome.

Winders, Patricia C. Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals.Bethesda: Woodbine House, 1997.
Provides parents and professionals with essential information about motor development.

Sensory Integration
Kranowitz, Carol Stock. The Out of Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Integration Dysfunction. New York: Pedigree Books, 2003.
Kranowitz, Carol Stock. The Out of Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder. Revised Ed. New York: Pedigree Books, 2006.
Provide a description of sensory integration dysfunction and includes dozens of activities with information on appropriate developmental age, equipment needed, how to prepare, what the child can do and what the benefits are.www.outofsyncchild.com.

Communication
Kumin, Libby. Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome. Bethesda: Woodbine House, 2003.*
Focuses on speech and language development from birth through the stage of making threeword phrases. Covers problem areas and treatment. 8008437323. www.woodbinehouse.com

Kumin, Libby. Classroom Language Skills for Children with Down Syndrome. Bethesda: Woodbine House, 2001.
Covers the language needs of children in school, from kindergarten to adolescence, and how to address those needs in the IEP as well as adapting school work. www.woodbinehouse.com

Kumin, Libby. What Did You Say?: A Guide to Speech Intelligibility in People with Down Syndrome (DVD).
Blueberry Shoes Productions. www.blueberryshoes.com

MacDonald, James D. Communicating Partners: 30 Years of Building Responsive Relationships with LateTalking Children. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2004.
Practical strategies that families can use to help their children develop positive, engaging, and fun connections with others. www.jkp.com

Miller, Jon F., Mark Leddy and Lewis A. Leavitt. Improving the Communication of People with Down Syndrome.Baltimore: Brookes Publishing. 1999.
Provides a framework for assessing and treating speech, language, and communication problems in children and adults with Down syndrome. www.brookespublishing.com.

Schwartz, Sue. The New Language of Toys: Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Special Needs. 3rd ed. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 2004.*
Ideas to help stimulate language development in children with special needs
through play. www.woodbinehouse.com

Schermerhorn, Will. Discovery: Pathways to Better Speech for Children with Down Syndrome. (2005) (DVD).*
An overview of language development in children with Down syndrome, age two and up. Blueberry Shoes Productions. www.blueberryshoes.com

Facilitating Friendships
Newton, Colin and D. Wilson. Creating Circles of Friends: A peer support and inclusion workbook.Nottingham: Inclusive Solutions, 2003. *
A practical guide to creating circles of friends written by educational psychologists. Contains background, stories, and reproducible handouts for use in school and other settings. www.inclusivesolutions.com

Perske, Robert. Circles of Friends: People with Disabilities and Their Friends Enrich the Lives of One Another.Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1988.
A collection of inspiring stories. www.abingdonpress.com

PersonCentered Planning
O’Brien, John and J. Pearpoint. PersonCentered Planning with MAPS and PATH: A Workbook for Facilitators. Nottingham: Inclusive Solutions,2004.*
A workbook to assist facilitators in their learning and implementing of PATH and MAPS
processes. www.inclusion.com

WEBSITES

National Organizations
The following national organizations will provide accurate and current information about Down syndrome.

National Down Syndrome Congress
18002326372
www.ndsccenter.org

National Down Syndrome Society
18002214602
www.ndss.org

Down Syndrome Education International
            www.downsed.org/

            Down Syndrome Education USA
            www.downsed-usa.org/

Education Research and Resources
Down Syndrome Education International www.downsed.org