D-Day: Finding Your Footingand

Moving Forward after Diagnosis

Prepared for DSAWMGrand Rapids, MiOctober19, 2011

Welcome to Holland?

Going on a Journey

–Understand that you will be grieving and that is all right. – 5 stages of grief Denial Anger Bargaining Depression/Guilt Acceptance

Vision is when you SEE ITand others don’t

Faith is when you DO ITand others won’t

You have a Baby First• Many Children with Down Syndrome have medical

challenges but with the appropriate medical care they can lead healthy lives

• Facts to consider when building your team:- approximately 40% have congenital heart defects

- Higher incidence of infection, respiratory, vision and hearing problems as well as thyroid

- Most children with Down Syndrome have mild to moderate impairments but it is important to note that they are more like other children than they are different

Who is on my Team?• Find a pediatrician who works with children

that have Down syndrome

• Find the right professionals

- follow your instinct

- Don’t be afraid to walk away

Early Intervention is ParamountWhat is it?

IDEA- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

When should it start? IDEA (Amendment 2004) – States have early

intervention programs from birth until school age

What Interventions does my Child Need?

4 areas of development -gross and fine motor

-language skills

-social development

-self help skills

What should you know?

• Physical Therapy

• Speech and Language Therapy

• Occupational Therapy

How do I find the help? Down Syndrome Association of Western Michigan

-Medical Professionals

-Therapist

- Parent groups

- Educational Conferences

- Social groups

- Respite Care

Finding the New Normal

Resources• www.dsawm.org- Down Syndrome Association of Western Michigan

• www.ndss.org- National Down Syndrome Society

• www.nads.org- National Association for Down Syndrome

• www.ldonline.org- Learning Disabilities On Line

• www.downsed.org – Downs Syndrome Educational Web site

• www.ds-healthy.com- created by a specialist and parents with Down Syndrome

THANK YOU

Suzanne Wilcox Hope Educational Consulting, LLC

PO Box 6541

Grand Rapids, Mi 49516

616.551.3798

www.hopeforlearning.com