About Me
The precious baby of the family I had interviewed
My daughter who gives me the strength to do what I do
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Master's Accelerated Program
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this assignment is to allow us to examine a topic related to families of young children with disabilities or those at risk for disabilities or developmental delays (See list of suggested topics) and translate research and policy into meaningful and functional practice to support families of young children with disabilities in our programs, communities, and state.
FIRST, I will introduce the definition of Down syndrome:
What is Down syndrome or Trisomy 21?
According to KidsHealth, DS is a condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome. The extra chromosome causes delays in the way a child develops mentally and physically.
There is no way to prevent Down syndrome, but it can be detected before a child is born.
My Passion
I had the desire to explore what challenges all types of families with a child with DS may encounter, issues they have experienced or may experience, how having a positive family can be beneficial for children that have Down syndrome, and I simply wanted to gain more knowledge and a better understanding on this topic.
My grandmother's brother was mute and had Down syndrome and from what I recall, my family made time for his needs and was supportive in every way. I did not know much about his disability or how my family adapted to his needs at the time, but I know family meant everything. With that being said, I am curious about the life stories of other families and so I did research on families of children with Down syndrome. I read a plethora of stories--some happy and some sad. I want to help make a difference for families that don't have the resource or the help; I want to at least help inform and raise awareness.
I also had to conduct an interview with a family of a child with Down syndrome for my ESP 772 class and I'm glad I did. The sweet little girl's mom was so insightful and informative. Her story is sincere and from my perspective she is a hero. She treats her little angel with love, care, and respect as what any mother should do. She was proactive even before giving birth. She reached out for help and support, read books, and prepared herself. She and her happy family are strong, dedicated, loving, and caring.What I knew before doing research
From what I know, some families may not know how to deal with Down syndrome or have any resources and information about this topic which can be an issue for the family. Knowing how to break the barriers in order to take care of their child is relevant to having a positive relationship and helps create a bright future for the child with DS.
The purpose of creating this website is to help spread awareness of families of children with Down syndrome and help inform families or viewers about this topic.
I provided research-based articles, sources, videos, and books about Down syndrome for all viewers to see. Feel free to share your experience and knowledge as well!
Family means everything! My daughter is my whole world. <3
The loving family I had interviewed.
My Action Plan
An action step I would do in my practice or life to advocate for families with children that have Down syndrome is to simply join an organization like Best Buddies. The power of friendship plays a critical aspect in this nonprofit organization and from joining this source, I will be able to learn more about families with children that have DS or other disabilities first hand and connect with them at a different level. With that being said, I can take what I have learned or experienced and use it towards my classroom . If I ever encounter a family with DS or any types of disability, I will be able to advocate by offering resources, information, and forming an alliance with the family. In relation to the DEC recommended practices, I can become a great leader by developing and implementing policies, structures, and practices that promote shared decision making with practitioners and families.
Another action step is to always stay updated and educated. I wish to further continue reading research based articles and keeping a look out for more local, state, or national sources that can benefit me as a teacher and benefit families. Being a leader and belonging to professional associations would be an ideal goal as well as being able to engage in ongoing evidence-based professional development. As an advocate for families with a child/children with Down syndrome, staying contemporized and educated about the topic and or occurring issues that exists or may develop can tremendously assist me and the family.