Down Syndrome

1. Down Syndrome By: Jessica Kotelnicki

2. What is it? • A developmental disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 • Having this extra chromosome means that each gene may be producing more protein then normal • The condition leads to impairments in both cognitive ability and physical growth that range from mild to moderate.

3. What They Think… • An individual with Down Syndrome, I believe, would not be offended by the previous definition of their disability. • The previous definition explains the scientific reasoning of their disability. However, the second part of the definition is questionable. • Even though most individuals with Down Syndrome have learning disabilities, they may argue the fact and say they are very intelligent.

4. How Do People Get Down Syndrome? • There is an error in the cell division called “nondisjunction” • This results in an embryo with 3 copies of chromosome instead of 2 • If a pair of number 21 chromosomes fail to separate during formation of an egg • There is no true cause to down syndrome, but studies have shown that chances increase as women age.

5. History • 1959- Jerome Lejeune, a geneticist, discovered that Down Syndrome occurs as a result of a copy of chromosome 21 • The syndrome was not technically named Down Syndrome until 35 years ago by a man named Dr. John Langdon Down • He was the first doctor to be able to describe the syndrome

6. History • In the past, people who had Down Syndrome could not go to school because people did not think they could learn. • Babies who had Down Syndrome were put into institutions. • In the last 25 years doctors and educators have been finding out that children with Down Syndrome learn better raised at home the same way as anyone else.

7. How is Down Syndrome Diagnosed? • During a women’s pregnancy two types of tests are performed to check for Down Syndrome: • Screening- Done to identify a mother who is likely carrying a baby with Down Syndrome • Diagnostic- Triple Screen and Alpha-Fetoprotein Plus

8. How is Down Syndrome Diagnosed? • Ultrasounds also allow the doctor to examine the fetus in the womb for physical signs of Down Syndrome. • If traces of Down Syndrome were not found during pregnancy, doctors can usually tell after birth by physical features the baby has.

9. Symptoms • Facial features: • Flatten nose, small mouth, long tongue, small ears, and upward slanted eyes • Hands are short with broad short fingers • Decreased muscle tone • Normal growth and development are delayed • Will not usually hit “normal” height • Decreased life expectancy • Average age = 50 years old

10. Is There a Cure? • The is currently no cure for Down Syndrome • Instead, those who are diagnosed with Down Syndrome go to physical and/or speech therapy regularly.

11. Education • Parents of children with Down Syndrome face the dilemma of deciding which type of school their child should attend. • Many have been opting out of special schools created specifically for Down Syndrome children. • Recently inclusion in mainstream schools have been the more common choice • Inclusion is an important step toward later inclusion in the community.

12. Accommodations in the Classroom • Children with Down Syndrome will need special accommodations and curriculum modifications in the classroom. However, because children are all so different, teachers have to incorporate their IEP expectations into their lesson plans. • However, some examples of accommodations could be making a test/quiz “easier” with less content or written “easier” to comprehend. Also, by only teaching them the main points of a lesson.

13. Challenges in the Classroom • Low self-esteem • Short attention spam • Distractions • Speech and language • Behavioral Issues

14. Intellectual Disabilities • Children with Down Syndrome are accompanied by intellectual disabilities. • These children will score below-average on a test of mental ability. • Difficulties functioning in areas of daily life. • Such as communication, self-care, and getting along in social situations and school activities. • Children with intellectual disability can learn new skills, but they develop more slowly than children with average intelligence and adaptive skills. • Children have disabilities across all the subjects including math, reading, writing, etc.

15. Challenges Socially • Children with Down Syndrome are usually very friendly, however; • Kids with Down Syndrome can feel isolated at times • They have trouble communicating clearly • Most children with Down Syndrome are socially immature and find it difficult to keep up with other children their age physically, emotionally and cognitively • Relationships with kids who do not have Down Syndrome are often lopsided • The kids Down Syndrome tend to want more from the friendships than the other kids do.

16. Works Cited • http://library.thinkquest.org/3880/history.html • http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=34&Itemid=55 • http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/down/ • http://downsyndrome.com/what-is-down-syndrome/ • http://specialed.about.com/od/disabilities/a/downs.htm • http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/29680.aspx • http://www.care.com/special-needs-caring-for-a-child-with-down-syndrome-p1167-q16876.html#How can I adjust to having a child with Down syndrome? • http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/29680.aspx • http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddmr.htm