The international charity Down Syndrome Education International (DSE) has taken the enormous elephant named “THE FUTURE” and has tried to turn it into bite-sized pieces for you. Take some time to tour the resource page of this website. You will find information about adulthood, adolescence, and childhood. After you get an Read more…
Finding out that your baby has a heart defect can be daunting for any new parent, and nearly half of parents who have children with Down syndrome receive that news. Many expectant parents are worried about the time period between birth and surgery. Many also worry about the symptoms associated with heart defects, Read more…
Finding out a grandchild is going to be born with Down syndrome sometimes bring with it a double dose of worry: concern for the grandchild and also concern for the child. While those initial fears are normal, every grandparent we’ve ever met has fallen head over heels in love with Read more…
Expectant parents who are raw from a diagnosis may not be feeling very thankful. It is difficult to envision the future as one that you will treasure, but that is the reality of most who have walked your path. Parents usually find significant joy, richness, and gratitude once they move Read more…
Learning that your child has Down syndrome can initially be overwhelming. However, the reality might be very different than anticipated. I am reminded of a client whose son had Down syndrome. After retiring, the father mentioned at dinner one evening that he was bored. His son volunteered that he could Read more…
Many moms report that the most difficult part of being the parent of a child with Down syndrome is the diagnosis and the immediate aftermath. Moms report thoughts and emotions they never thought they would have. Most are not prepared for the onslaught of emotions, and the intensity shocks them. Read more…
When expectant parents find out they’re having a baby with Down syndrome, they often say they feel isolated and alone. For those families who speak other languages, that isolation can be even more profound as they look for translated resources and connections with other parents. For our Spanish-speaking expectant parents, Read more…
Applying for SSI Benefits When Your Baby Has Down Syndrome If you’ve recently learned that your child has or will have Down syndrome, there are many steps you can take to give your a happy, healthy, and rewarding life. Thanks to the Social Security Administration (SSA), it can be possible Read more…
For so many of us, the day we received a diagnosis for our child with Down syndrome/Trisomy 21 is overwhelming. We moved forward from that time, and have grown along with our children. In the book The Time Traveler’s Wife, the main character travels back in time, and at one Read more…
Part of sharing the news is that you then have to deal with comments from the people you know. Most people mean well, but sometimes things sound “off” to an expectant parent. Sometimes people say things that might make you feel uncomfortable. Then, you often need to decide whether respond Read more…