Down Syndrome Educational Alliance
The Down Syndrome Education Alliance strives to provide information, training, resources and supports by partnering with Bay Area educators who work with students with Down syndrome. We offer information regarding the general learning profile of individuals with Down syndrome and research based best practices for educating them. The Alliance offers direct training; consultation; ability awareness presentations; and access to our curriculum, AAC and print libraries.
DSEA Brochure (what's it all about?)
NEW! 8/18/15 PRESENTATION ON BACK TO SCHOOL - SETTING THE STAGE
DSEA Training Presentations
AAC & Literacy in the Classroom
See and Learn Reading Programs
Inclusion and Ability Awareness
Visual Supports for Communication and Literacy
Speech Intelligibility in the Down Syndrome Population - FOR SLP's
Down Syndrome 101 for Education Teams - ALL bay area schools welcome
The Activity Matrix: A Tool That Supports Student Success and Team Collaboration
Inclusion in Community, Life and Friendships
"The Bridge" Newsletters for Educators
1ST EDITION - Ds Specialist Tips/ Setting the Stage for Friendships
2ND EDITION- Communication
3RD EDITION - IEP Tips
4TH EDITION - Summer Is Coming!
5TH EDITION - Back to School
6TH EDITION- Successful Home & School Communication
7TH EDTION - Inclusion
8TH EDITION - Vision & Cognition
Your New Student
My Teacher Matters - This motivating piece is great to give out to teachers and providers who are working with children with Down syndrome. It speaks to the positive power and influence that educators can have in working with any child with special needs.
Getting to Know Me - "Getting to Know Me" is a booklet that educators can give to parents when school starts. When filled out, this booklet allows teachers and providers to get to know a bit more about the student than is in a typical IEP. Sections of this book can also provide a platform for introducing the student to his/her classmates, especially if the student doesn't have the communication skills to do so verbally.
Ability Awareness
Just Like You: This is a wonderful 13 minute video about 3 students with Down syndrome. It is narrated by the students and their typically developing peers. It provides a wonderful introduction to Down syndrome, being friends and the students' wish to be treated "just like you." The video is appropriate for elementary through high school students.
Ability Awareness Fact Sheet - General concepts by age group.
World Down Syndrome Day- A handout with examples on how to acknowledge and celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.
Down Syndrome Awareness Lesson, Grades K-2
Tips for the Team
•Tips for Including Children with Down Syndrome
•Ten Tips for General Educators - This handout delineates ten quick and easy things that classroom teachers can do to include students with disabilities in the classroom from day one.
•Ten Tips for Paraeducators - In the fast paced school setting, paraeducators often embark upon classroom duties without the guidance they need. This handout describes simple suggestions for classroom aides to help them promote active participation and the independence of students with disabilities.
•Ten Tips for Special Educators - Collaborate, communicate and promote the participation of diverse students in the classroom. This handout describes simple strategies for learning specialists and special education teachers.
•Ten Tips for Administrators - Share this brief list of suggestions with school administrators and enable the principal or assistant principal to promote the active participation of students with disabilities in the regular education classroom.
•Ten Tips for Therapists - Keep students in the classroom and meet therapeutic objectives. Follow the advice on this tip sheet designed for speech-language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists.
•Ten Tips for Caregivers - This tip sheet offers suggestions to parents and caregivers to help improve their ability to work with professionals and others on the school-based team.
•Ten Tips for Assistive Techies - Follow the common sense guidelines on this handout and get people to actually use computers and augmentative communication devices in the classroom!
Academics
Number Skills for Children with Down Syndrome (5-11 years) This article provides a brief overview of information regarding the development of number skills within elementary students with Down syndrome.
Reading and Writing for Individuals with Down syndrome - An Overview, Sue Buckley
Reading and writing for children with Down syndrome (5-11 years), Buckley, Beadman and Bird
Reading and Writing for Teenagers with Down Syndrome (11-6 years), Gillian Bird & Sue Buckley
Curriculum Modifications & Adaptions
Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Making learning accessible and engaging for all students, NEA policy brief - UDL helps ALL students have full access to curriculum. In today’s dynamic, diverse classrooms, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers all educators and students an exciting opportunity to use strategies and technologies that bridge the gap in learner skills, interests, and needs. By accommodating students’ different learning styles, UDL is able to transform instruction into a more engaging, meaningful experience.
8 Types of Adaptations - 8 simple ways to adapt classroom curriculum.
IEP Support
IEP at a Glance -This is helpful to create for your studnet and distribute to the entire team at the beginning of a school year and/or when an IEP is updated.
Goals at a Glance -Here is just one example of how to structure a sample "goals at a glance"
Student Profile -A student profile can provide a helpful "snapshot" of a student. This can be distributed to all staff/personnel who interact with a student.
Inclusion
Implementing Inclusion - National Down Syndrome Society "Almost thirty years of research and experience has demonstrated that the education of children with disabilities can be made more effective by having high expectations for such children and ensuring their access to the general education curriculum..." This article discusses and cites research as to the benefits of inclusion for students with special needs. It notes some of the barriers to inclusion and provides additional references.
“Questioning Removal, Rejection and Exclusion” by Paula Kluth - Paula Kluth questions the removal and ramifications that such rejection children with disabilities often face in their schooling.
The Educational Challenges Inclusion Study - This study examines inclusive practices and factors that influence its success. There is informative discussion regarding specific learning, grading and classroom strategies.
Inclusion's Impact on Children without Disabilities - What the research shows so far about inclusion's effect on typical children. Information from the National Institute for Urban School Improvement.
Inclusion Handouts and Forms
Participation Rating, Project Participate - These forms provide a structure of assessing a student’s level of authentic participation and independence within a classroom setting.
Assitance Rating - How often is a student really participating in class? Use this form as a way to guide an observation of the student in the middle or high school environment and assess classroom participation.
Daily Record - Students with disabilities frequently receive credit for work completed by another person. Use this quick questionnaire during a visit to a secondary classroom as a way to measure the assistance given to students to complete tasks.
Daily Record Sample - Paraeducators and classroom teachers complete this quick and simple form each day to document classroom accomplishments and maintain focus on pertinent goals. See a sample of a daily participation record created to help the school team document the daily performance of staff members and students.
Social & Peer Relations
Making Relationships a Priority, Paula Kluth - Friendships are a critical component for any student. Children with special needs often need more scaffolding and assistance in forming friendships. This article discusses ways in which teachers can provide opportunities to foster friendships.
Peer Mentoring Programs and Childhood Disability, Pamela Wilson
Communication
The Importance of Home/School Communication - Benefits and tips on effective home-school school communication.
Speech, Language and Communication for Individuals with Down Syndrome - An Overview, Sue Buckley
Apps for Special Educators - Apps by education related categories recommended by special educators
More information about Augmentative Alernative Communication
Daily News Log - Track behavior, favorite things and bathroom news etc.
Daily Assignment Log - Track assignments by subject and track due dates etc.
School/Home Daily Log - Tell parents the highlights, successes and challenges of the day etc.
Speech and Language on the IEP - Strategies for developing goals.
Past Topic Specific Workshop Flyers - Call us if you have an idea for a workshop!
AAC & Literacy in the Classroom
