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For people with Down syndrome, family members, caregivers and professionals.

Duration: 7 ms, Number of Results: 151

Showing 25 - 48 of 151

Aging and Life Expectancy

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Today, people with Down syndrome (DS) are living longer and healthier than any other time in the past. In 1900, the life expectancy of people with DS was 9 years. By 1984, the life expectancy

Opposite Actions

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

When we experience an emotion, there is often a behavioral urge that comes along with it. When we feel angry, we may have the urge to yell or break things or hurt someone. When we feel sad, we may hav

Calming vs. Coping Strategies

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is the difference between calming and coping strategies? Many times, we use the terms "calming" and "coping" interchangeably. There is often overlap in the str

Reframing our Thoughts

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Reframing our thoughts is a strategy to change the way we think about a situation, person, or relationship. Sometimes, we can get stuck in thought patterns that negatively impact our mood and behavior

Resources on Healthy Ways to Manage Stress

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resource List

Learning how to manage our stress in healthy ways is a lifelong process. We have compiled a list of resources below that may help people with and without Down syndrome who are workin

Eating Refusal

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We received the following question:  I have a son with Down syndrome. He had testicular cancer in his late 20s. Since then, he seems to have developed an eating disorder. He always feels he i

Information Forms to Share with Hospitals and Clinics

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resources

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 unfami

Tips for Going Up and Down Stairs Safely

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L and Abby Rowley, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

Going up and down stairs can be challenging for some people with Down syndrome. Aging, differences in depth perception, unsteady gait, and other issues may contribute to difficulty with navigating sta

End-Of-Life and Down Syndrome Guidebook

Author: National Down Syndrome Society - Resource

The resource linked below is a guidebook from the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). According to the Introduction, the aim of the guidebook is to "provide guidance for the crossroads and

Fear of Heights

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD and Abby Rowley, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

We have seen people with Down syndrome with a variety of phobias. Concern about heights is one we see more commonly. For this fear in particular, we often ask if it is indeed a phobia or if it is caus

Contingency Maps

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Contingency maps can help an individual visualize their behavioral choices and the outcomes/consequences of their behaviors. They can help make the problem-solving process more concrete. The individua

Perspectives on Pain in Down Syndrome

Author: Shaikh et al. - Medicinal Research Reviews (2023)

Abstract Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 is a genetic condition often accompanied by chronic pain caused by congenital abnormalities and/or conditions, such as osteoarthritis, recurrent infections, a

Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

The handouts linked below were developed to teach individuals with Down syndrome how to think more positively. If an individual has an automatic negative thought (or ANT), they can squish it or brush

My Stress Triggers Visual

Author: Abigail Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

There are many things that might make us feel stressed.  My Stress Triggers    gives examples of things that might make us feel stressed. What causes you to feel st

How to Cope with Stress

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Coping with stress is an important and necessary part of life. There are some strategies that can help us manage our reactions to different life stressors. The steps below are strategies that I use wi

Behavior Changes in Individuals with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (2/23/2023)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW, on February 23, 2023. In this webinar, the presenters define, iden

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD, and Dennis McGuire, PhD, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

*This article was adapted from  Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges, 2nd Edition . What is attention-deficit/hyperactivi

Acrocyanosis

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is acrocyanosis? Acrocyanosis is the bluish discoloration of the extremities (usually the hands and/or feet) due to decreased oxygen being delivered to those areas. The small blood vessels in the

Obsessional Slowness

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is obsessional slowness? Obsessional slowness is an apparent form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that appears to be more common in people with Down syndrome. At this point, much more needs to b

Mental Health at the Holidays for People with Down Syndrome and Their Families Webinar (11/30/2022)

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Abby Rowley, LCSW, presented a webinar called "Mental Health at the Holidays for People with Down Syndrome and Their Families" on November 30, 2022. The webinar was hosted by&nbs

Plan For Managing My Emotions

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Visual Handout

When we talk about emotions during our social skills groups for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome, we explain that it is ok to feel any emotion; however, it is not ok to have negative

Long COVID in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

A complication of having COVID-19 infection is a condition called long COVID (it has also been called long-haul COVID, chronic COVID, post-COVID conditions, and others). The National Task Group on Int

Things I Can Do to Help Me Calm Down

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center

This visual handout shares activities you can do to help yourself calm down.

"I" Statements

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

"I" statements are a way to share how we feel in a clear, calm, and respectful way. The handouts pictured below explain the components of "I" statements. There is a

Showing 25 - 48 of 151
 

 

Please note: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for a medical, psychiatric, mental health, or behavioral evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment plan by a qualified professional. We recommend you review the educational material with your health providers regarding the specifics of your health care needs.

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