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English IV
Mrs. Battle
20 March 2017
Down Syndrome
A 36-year-old named Karen Gaffney will receive an honorary doctorate from Oregon's
University of Portland. What makes this so amazing is that Karen has Down syndrome. In fact,
University officials believe she may be the first person with Down syndrome to receive such a
degree. Down syndrome, known as Trisomy 21, is a Genetic Disorder (Resources for
Learners with Down Syndrome) Out of all the types of birth defects Down syndrome is one
of the most common (Down Syndrome) It occurs in about 1 in every 700-1,000 live births (
Down Syndrome) Older women have a higher rate of having children with down syndrome. In
fact, women over forty have a 1 in 100 to 1 in 30 chance, while younger women have
approximately a 1 in
can be done between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy[to] detect most incidences of
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down syndrome (Down Syndrome) According to University Medical Center, Children born
with Down Syndrome may suffer from Certain Birth Defects, Learning Problems, and certain
facial features. (Down Syndrome) Some people who suffer from Down Syndrome may have
a life expectancy of 60 years but it depends on the individual. (Down Syndrome) Even though
children with down syndrome may have significant learning disabilities, they still can learn with
Down Syndrome occurs when a child or Adult has an extra copy of the chromosome No.
21 (Down Syndrome). It may also be caused by Translocation Down Syndrome the only
form Down Syndrome that may be inherited from a parent.(Down Syndrome) Translocation
Down Syndrome doesnt affect the childs own health (Down Syndrome) In the case of
Mosaic Down Syndrome, it occurs when an error in cell division happens after the egg is
fertilized(Down Syndrome) As can be seen, there are multiple ways a child might end up with
Down syndrome.
Physical effects of Downs syndrome are consistent among those diagnosed. Most have
Decreased or poor muscle tone, Short neck, with excess skin at the back of the neck, Flattened
facial profile and nose,Small head, ears, and mouth, Upward slanting eyes, often with a skin fold
that comes out from the upper eyelid and covers the inner corner of the eye,White spots on the
colored part of the eye (called Brushfield spots), Wide, short hands with short fingers, A single,
deep, crease across the palm of the hand, A deep groove between the first and second toes
(What are common symptoms) Even though these physical features are common among all
Down syndrome children, these features do not have to hold them back from learning.
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The mental and emotional effects can vary individually; however, general anxiety,
neuropsychological problems characterized by progressive loss of cognitive skills are the most
Learning can be impacted with a child with Down syndrome based on their cognitive and
emotional needs. Many students with Down syndrome are visual learners, so teachers should use
visual cues and representations whenever possible. Hands on learning is beneficial to all
learners but particularly for students with Down syndrome. Additionally, learning should be a
social environment where the students can work together to complete tasks. A teacher should
provide extra time to complete tasks and break all directions into smaller parts to make sure the
student learns. Just because Down syndrome students need certain modifications and supports to
help them to learn does not mean that one should lower expectations. Students should be held to
high standards to help them be driven to succeed. (Resources for Learners with Down
Syndrome)
In the case of younger school aged children, one would see more impulsiveness and
disruptive behavior, similar to one with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Additionally, young students may exhibit behaviors of compulsion and not move to new tasks,
and often they seem stubborn. There may also be social related issues where a child has trouble
reading social cues of his or her peers. Sleep disorders may also be present and cause a child to
be tired and moody. (What Are the Major Mental Health Related Concerns in Persons With
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Down Syndrome?) In the case of older age children and teens with Down syndrome who have
better language and communication and cognitive skills, they are more vulnerable to depression,
isolation from others, anxiety, sleepiness during the day and sleeplessness at night (What Are
the Major Mental Health Related Concerns in Persons With Down Syndrome?). As can be
seen, children with Down syndrome have difficulties that impact their learning., but can still
Children with Down syndrome are allowed to attend public schools with other students
with the Federal Laws which protect the rights of children with disabilities, including children
with Down syndrome, to receive a free, appropriate public education (Schooling from Preschool
to Age 21) Before this legislation, students with disabilities were routinely placed in often
Many people are surprised to learn of the dramatic improvements in health and quality of
life for a child diagnosed with Down Syndrome (Szabo). Many graduate high school. Some
take college classes. Some get married. About one in five has a job. Most people who have
down syndrome will live until about 55 years old. This is because they age quicker than peers
who do not have down syndrome. They develop conditions of a old age prematurely (Down
Syndrome) The post outlook turn out to be good for most/some down syndrome children. At
one time the outlook for a child with this diagnosis was to live only until the age of 25.The
outlook for this generation of young people diagnosed with Down syndrome is better than any
other time in history due to early interventions and diagnosis ( Szabo) Its important to
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remember that children and adults with Down syndrome are no different from us, and with the
Works Cited
"Mental Health Issues and Down Syndrome." National Down Syndrome Society. National down
"Resources for Learners with Down Syndrome in Full-Inclusion Classrooms." USC Rossier
"Schooling from Preschool to Age 21." National Down Syndrome Society. National down
Szabo, Liz. "Life with Down Syndrome Is Full of Possibilities." USA Today. Gannett Satellite
"What Are Common Symptoms of Down Syndrome." National Institutes of Health. U.S.