Visiting a hospital or clinic can be a stressful or frightening experience for some individuals with Down syndrome. The stress and fear can be increased if the healthcare providers are unfamiliar with the individual and their health history and/or a family member or caregiver is unable to be present.
Several forms have been developed by a variety of organizations to help in these situations. The forms prompt individuals with Down syndrome and their families to share information about the individual's health history, medications, communication preferences, likes/dislikes, and other needs. They are encouraged to fill out these forms and bring them to hospital or clinic visits so that the healthcare providers know how to best support the individual receiving medical care. We have provided links to a few examples below.
- My Health Passport
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- This document was developed by the University of South Florida and Florida Center for Inclusive Communities.
- Health Resume - This document was developed by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities and Ray Graham Association.
- My Hospital Form - This document was developed by the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program of Surrey Place in Toronto and adapted for U.S. use by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.
