Using Videos to Support Individuals with Down Syndrome

Benefits of using videos

We facilitate a variety of health education and social skills groups for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. We often use videos in these groups. We also encourage individuals with Down syndrome and their families to use videos when working on learning and skill building at home.

Many people with Down syndrome are visual learners and have strong visual memories. Videos can help them learn and retain information more effectively than auditory-only teaching methods. They also help with engagement and attention.

 

How to find videos

We have developed (and continue to develop) a collection of videos featuring individuals with Down syndrome. The videos cover a variety of topics including personal hygiene (how to brush your teeth, tips for dealing with dry skin, etc.), healthy lifestyle (nutrition, hydration, physical activity, etc.), and social skills (appropriate touch, managing stress, etc.).

Individuals with Down syndrome are the stars of our videos because it is important for them to be included in efforts to promote their physical, mental, and social health. Additionally, including people with Down syndrome in the videos provides a way for other people with Down syndrome to learn through peer modeling – watching someone who is similar to them perform a task, teach a skill, or share information.

We have also used videos from:

• Everyday Speech – social skills

• AMAZE – relationships, puberty, mental health

• Penquis Autism Community Services – chores, personal hygiene

• And others

 

How to optimize use of videos

Many individuals with Down syndrome need more time to process information. For example, we recommend waiting at least 5-10 seconds after asking a person with Down syndrome a question to give them enough time to process the question and formulate a response. Similarly, we slow down the playback speed of many videos during our groups. For YouTube videos, you can adjust the playback speed by clicking/tapping on the gear icon . 

We adjust the playback speed of a variety of types of videos including:

• Videos that share information (such as videos about managing emotions)

• Videos that teach skills (such as brushing teeth or tying shoes)

• Exercise and physical activity videos (this can be particularly helpful for individuals who are trying a new type of exercise for the first time)

 

Conclusion

Using videos can be a wonderful way for people with Down syndrome to learn new skills, practice existing skills, and develop greater independence.