There is a lot to learn for parents taking care of a child with Down syndrome. Unlike the majority who have neurotypical babies, raising a child with special needs is a whole other experience. While every parent shares the same sentiments in taking care of a child in general,  having to bring up a child of special needs is a different story.

Parenting a child with Down syndrome is a challenge as it is, all the more so if your child is also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD. In this blog, let us examine the dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and ASD otherwise called DS-ASD

What is DS-ASD?

Down Syndrome- Autism Spectrum Disorder is a dual occurrence of two neurodevelopmental disorders. Both Down Syndrome and ASD are challenging disabilities as it is...

Even after years of proven cognitive and behavioral research, there still exists a persistent stigma against individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD. Learning centers dedicated to special needs children agree that a lot of the general public still believe that people with ASD lack empathy and cannot comprehend emotions. However, this is just a stereotype and couldn’t be any further away from the truth.

While it is true that children with autism struggle in dealing with some aspects of empathy and do not fairly show outward emotions,  it does not mean that they do not have the ability to read emotions and empathize.

Often looking impassive and indifferent, these special needs children are usually the kindest, most compassionate people you’ll come across...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, there are about 6,000 babies born with chromosomal disorder, Down syndrome. This means approximately 16 babies are born with Down syndrome every day.

With the advancements and innovations in cognitive and behavioral therapies, several practices are now available to facilitate the development of children with Down syndrome around the globe. Parallel to this is the raised awareness, advocacy and the accessibility of therapy and learning centers, to accommodate these children’s needs.

Occupational therapy or OT is one practice that could be attributed to the facilitation and support for children with Down syndrome.

In this blog, we will be discussing the role of Occupational therapy for the furtherance of Down Syndrome and ...

Our children are very precious to us. We’d do everything in our power to provide for them. As parents, we work hard in giving them the best education, a loving family, and a comfortable home. 

This is especially true for parents of children with special needs. Creating a home that’s conducive to their development is essential. After all, children are taught first at home, it’s just right to set up a healthy and nurturing environment at a place where they feel safe, secure and happy.

Several parents go to great lengths in creating a sensory-friendly home for their child. 

Provide a Sensory-friendly environment

Data from UNICEF points out that the family’s home plays a pivotal role in the survival and development of young children, the same goes for children with special needs...

Every child is different. They have distinct likes, dislikes, mannerisms, and preferred learning methods. No two children are alike, yet all children have something in common- they are young learners. With this in mind, it is imperative to understand that whether you have sons or daughters who have different or special needs. 

And like most children in a classroom, there will always be kids who do not have a problem with being attentive in class, and youngsters who easily distracted and troublesome. The same fact goes for children with special needs. Whether it is ASD, Down Syndrome, and ADHD, each child has a different level of learning abilities and disabilities.  

In this blog, we will be discussing inclusivity in education for children with special educational needs or SEN.

What m...

Perhaps, the ultimate mission in life is the pursuit of happiness. In whatever we do, or whomever we are with, we are in constant search for the things that would truly make us happy. For some people, happiness can be found in building a home and making a family. 

One of life’s joys is seeing our children happy.  As parents, we become truly selfless- putting our children’s needs first before ours. Becoming a parent is also difficult, as it’s a commitment and a challenging one at that. 

Being a parent teaches us a lot of things, from becoming truly selfless to having a better perspective at life. However, some parents have it slightly different than others, especially when it comes to raising a child with special needs, particularly Down Syndrome. 

In this blog, let us discover so...

It is every child’s right to be given access to quality education. For children and adolescents with special needs, a unique treatment and method of teaching are required which is often referred to as special education or SPED. Likewise, SPED teachers are specialists in providing educational programs that are in line with intervention programs designed by specialists for children with special needs and determination. 

Teachers for differently-abled children have a harder job than normal educators. Having a specialized skill-set, SPED teachers are equipped with the right knowledge to deal with these children every day. 

Oftentimes, SPED teachers deal with children with different needs such as ASD, ADD, ADHD, and Down Syndrome...

As a parent of a child with Autism or ASD, you will be aware of the challenges your child has communicating, both verbally and non-verbally. It is also difficult for them to interact socially, especially with people outside their families. 

You may be having a hard time communicating with your child, which may prevent you from providing suitable care your child needs. 

One way of coping with problems in communicating is through speech and language therapy. Most children diagnosed with ASD are recommended to undergo speech and language therapy, which can help children with ASD communicate effectively in meaningful and functional ways.

Speech and language therapists work with a team of other healthcare providers usually composed of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, ...

It is not uncommon for parents having children with displayed signs of delayed speech to think that their child may be having autism. They are promptly concerned on how to cope with their child’s disability. 

In reality, during early intervention, a child cannot be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD right away; rather therapists can only determine if the child is exhibiting symptoms of developmental delays and only in further evaluation can they diagnose ASD or rule it out entirely.

Speech delays should not be taken lightly, however, as it may be an early warning sign of something much bigger. To prevent parents from misunderstanding their child’s speech delay, let us discuss the different signs that make it a symptom of Autism.

Autistic Speech Delay Vs...

Our children are precious to us. As parents, we bear the responsibility to help them develop their skills, assist them with their challenges, aid them in honing their talents and nurture them as they navigate through childhood, puberty, and adolescence.  

Being a parent for a child with special needs is a challenge and one that requires patience and dedication. Although it may be tough, several therapeutic interventions can help in parenting special children, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD; one of which is occupational therapy. 

Children with ASD require special attention as they differ in processing sensory information compared to others. They may find it difficult to interact and communicate with their surroundings and their social skills may also be limited...