The Down Syndrome Research Foundation believes that education and optimum health care will provide an improved quality of life for people with Down syndrome. Our innovative programs and services provide a firm foundation for life long learning.
Programs offered by the Down Syndrome Research Foundation are in the areas of academic achievement, speech and language development, social and emotional development, and optimum health.
- Latch-On, from the University of Queensland in Australia, is an academic program developed with a socio-cultural approach to literacy that uses a combination of technology and traditional methods of instruction to enhance educational development. We are collaborating with North Island College, on Vancouver Island, in providing the Latch-On program to the island community.
- Speech programs encompass individual and group sessions and are provided throughout the calendar year. Individual language sessions enhance speech development through one-on-one therapy sessions with our speech language pathologist. Group sessions provide literacy instruction through our Teen Literacy program and expressive language skills development through our Language Express program.
- The Next Chapter Book Club is a unique experience for adults to be enhancing their reading skills while being socially engaged with their peers and their community.
Services offered by the Down Syndrome Research Foundation are information and referrals through our reference and lending library and the loan of games and software from our toy lending library to enhance speech development.
Workshops are provided throughout the year by the Down Syndrome Research Foundation.
- Our monthly Parent Group Meetings are a forum for information exchange amongst parents.
- The Planning for the Future workshop series outlines the steps in planning when your child reaches the age of majority and transitions into adult life.
- Reaching adulthood means adult responsibilities one of which is an understanding of sexuality. Our new program - S.H.A.R.E. (Sexuality, Health, Awareness, Relationships and Emotions) - will provide participants with information on human sexuality and the social skills inherent in sexual relationships.
