Down Syndrome of Louisville: Empowering Individuals with Down Syndrome

2. Mission Our mission is to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome, and their families, by providing support, information, education, and advocacy for their rights and concerns; THUS ENABLING EACH INDIVIDUAL TO REACH HIS OR HER FULL POTENTIAL. Down Syndrome of Louisville’s Lifelong Learning Centers located in Louisville and Southern Indiana provide comprehensive educational services; researched based to maximize the potential of people with Down syndrome from birth through adulthood with age appropriate programming.

3. Service Area Kentucky and Southern Indiana

4. EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM BIRTH TO FIVE • SCHOOL AGE CREATIVE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM • TWEENERS SKILL BUIDLING PROGRAM • SPEECH/COMMUNICATION GROUP PROGRAM • TEEN/ADULT SKILL BUILDING PROGRAM • ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM • STEPS TO INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM • LIVE AND LEARNING PROGRAM • ADULT DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY • ‘FUN’CTIONAL ACADEMICS • CAREER SOLUTIONS/SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT • COLLEGE CONNECTIONS • EDUCATIONAL/MEDICAL RESOURCE/ADVOCACY SERVICES

5. Adventures in Puberty • Common Myths about Sexuality • Start Sex Education Early and in age appropriate format • Developing you child’s positive self- esteem and assertiveness/abuse prevention • Understanding the need for healthy relationships and developing appropriate social skills • Learning the value and care of your body and developing independent skills for hygiene

6. Successful survival of the puberty years

7. Parent Survey • Do you believe your child is a sexual being? • Can your child communicate and identify body parts? • Does he understand the function and purpose of body parts? • Does he understand who can touch private parts? • Would she tell someone no or push away unwanted touches? • Would he report inappropriate touching or abuse? • Does she understand the concept of personal space? • Does she understand the concept of private and public? • Has he expressed a desire for a romantic relationship?

8. Start Early

9. Early Childhood Sexual Awareness Education • Begin at an early age using the name for body parts and bodily functions not substitutes • Developing a positive self- concept • Allow children at a young age to make choices and the permission to say no • Understanding of feelings- types how to identify in yours self and others though body language , facial expression and tone of voice • Introducing the concept of private and public by example and teachable moments

10. Cycle of Sexual development and the Body • Birth to 5 - Learns to value self nurturing touches • Aware of body parts including genitals • interested in anatomical difference • Childhood- Begins to understand modesty • Curious about pregnancy and birth • Begins to understand responsibility for welfare • of own body • Pre-adolescence- Physical maturation begins, • Becomes more modest about body • Anxiety about body changes • Adolescence- Physical maturation almost complete • Concerns about body image

11. Learning Boundaries • Body rights- Helping your child understand that her body is her own and she has the right to refuse affection • Understanding who is appropriate to assist with hygiene or touching private parts • Understanding who is appropriate to display affection • Respecting others personal body space • Discouraging educators and therapists from extreme displays of affection or multiple hugs

12. Establishing Healthy Relationships • Understanding various levels of relationships • Identifying mutual interest • Taking time to grow the relationship • Boundaries are respected • Sharing decisions and initiation • Respecting others depth of feelings • Appropriate communicating feelings or desires

13. Establishing Independent Healthy Hygiene Habits • Creating New habits start with consistency, adequate time and specific visual instructions • Allow time for errors or redo’s • Start with everyday occurrences and master one skill at a time. • Emphasize privacy and not sharing all details about personal hygiene • Establish a plan for public restrooms with out supervision

14. Changes in Male Body functions Use illustrated books for understanding changes of male genitalia during arousal Emphasize the need to wash body fluids and clothing and bed linen Establish a plan for unexpected erections in public

15. Changes in Female Body functions Use illustrated books for changes in breasts and vulva Celebrate the body changes with new bras and panties Prepare your daughter for the onset of her menses months before you anticipate the onset Assure your daughter that she is not ill when menstruation starts although the cramping is painful she will be ok Practice a routine of changing pads and how they should be disposed Assure your daughter that the urges to masturbate are normal but should occur in private

16. I survived my first shave!

17. Diana Merzweiler, Executive DirectorDown Syndrome of Louisvilledianam@dsl.win.net 502- 495-50881-855- DSL-JOIN www.downsyndromeoflouisville.org