DSE moves to new offices

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Down Syndrome Education International and Down Syndrome Education Enterprises CIC are relocating their UK head offices. The move is part of a wider restructuring that focuses on new research and wider-reaching services that better support early intervention and education for young people with Down syndrome worldwide.

Down Syndrome Education International and Down Syndrome Education Enterprises CIC are moving to new offices in southern Cumbria in North West England. The charity will close The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth, where it has been based since 1991, in mid-June.

The move is part of a reorganisation that is refocusing the charity on its core mission – to advance scientific research that improves early intervention and education. These changes will improve efficiency, enabling DSE to further expand its research and services to better support early intervention and education for young people with Down syndrome globally.

Building on three decades of achievement

Over the past 30 years, Down Syndrome Education International has grown from a small, local organisation to an international charity helping more than 150,000 people globally each year.

During this time, DSE has played a central role in scientific research that has advanced understanding of the cognitive and learning difficulties experienced by children with Down syndrome. The charity’s early work was inspired by the late Leslie Duffen and his daughter, Sarah, after whom the centre in Portsmouth was named.

The charity has funded – and continues to fund – research into reading and language development, memory, speech and communication, inclusion in education, behaviour and social development, autism, sleep, number and maths skills, and adolescence. Recently, DSE has completed the first major controlled trials of interventions designed to improve language and reading and memory skills for children with Down syndrome.

Ever since its first research project, DSE has sought to ensure that new scientific evidence is disseminated widely to inform more effective support and services. The charity has published newsletters, a scientific journal, books and films since the 1990s, and launched its first web site in 1996.

Today, DSE helps people in 180 countries. In the past 3 months alone, over 50,000 people have used our services and publications.

Better focused, more efficient and delivering more

For over 30 years, DSE’s most significant achievements for children with Down syndrome and their families have resulted from scientific research and widespread dissemination of evidence-based information and guidance. These are the activities that have led to lasting and profound change for many thousands of children with Down syndrome.

The restructuring will enable DSE to increase support for new scientific research. DSE’s research priorities are to identify effective interventions that improve cognitive development, speech, language and literacy skills, memory, numeracy, social development and wider academic achievement for children with Down syndrome. DSE has many important studies awaiting funding, including trials of practical interventions likely to be effective at improving speech clarity, memory skills and reading comprehension. Each of these has the potential to transform outcomes for young people with Down syndrome within a relatively short period of time.

Professor Sue Buckley OBE, the charity’s Director of Research, comments, “When we began our research 30 years ago, few people thought children with Down syndrome could learn to read or benefit from education. We knew little about the children’s learning difficulties and less about effective teaching methods. Today, many young people with Down syndrome are benefiting from knowledgeable early intervention and rich educational opportunities. Research, too, has moved on. We now know more about the children’s particular learning difficulties and this is informing better interventions. Today, it is increasingly important that we rigorously evaluate these interventions. Intervention trials tend to be large and require collaboration with multiple groups of researchers. This restructuring will leave us better placed to undertake a wide ranging research programme – increasingly supporting projects at universities in the UK and the US rather than primarily at our own facilities.”

The charity is also continuing to make it easier to utilise evidence-based interventions and teaching approaches through new, practical publications and online training courses and advice services.

Over the next 12 months, DSE’s range of See and Learn early teaching programmes will grow to include 15 practical kits supporting language and reading, memory, number and speech development. DSE will also start to release computer-based teaching activities, based on these programmes, on a variety of platforms, including apps for tablet computers.

DSE will shortly publish the handbook for the Reading and Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome that has recently been successfully trialled. In the autumn, the charity will be publishing additional resources and offering new training opportunities to help educators implement the programme successfully.

DSE will also be overhauling and updating all of its web sites over the next few months and re-launching the scientific journal, Down Syndrome Research and Practice in 2013.

As ever, what the charity achieves for young people with Down syndrome depends very much on the support of donors around the world. DSE’s work is unique and it both supports and complements the work of local and national support groups and associations.

To help support DSE’s research, publications and services you can donate tax effectively in the UK and in the US:

Reading and language intervention web seminar

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Join us online this week to learn more about the reading and language intervention study that has recently been published. DSE researchers Dr Kelly Burgoyne and Professor Sue Buckley will be presenting and responding to questions.

Together with colleagues at the Centre for Reading and Language at the University of York, we have recently completed the first large controlled trial of an intervention designed for children with Down syndrome. The first scientific paper from the study is now available. This three year study involved nearly 60 children in schools in York and Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. It was funded by the UK Big Lottery Fund.

Join us online to learn more about the trial and the intervention itself. At these free events, DSE researchers will explain the trail and the design of the intervention, and present their findings. There will also be opportunities to ask us questions.

  • 15 May 2012 – 19:00 British Summer Time (11.00am Los Angeles, 2.00pm New York, 16:00 GMT, 20:00 Paris) – Register now…
  • 16 May 2012 – 09:30 British Summer Time (08:30 GMT, 10:30 Paris, 12:30 Moscow, 14:00 New Delhi, 18:30 Sydney, 20:30 Auckland) – Register now…

Landmark research study shows targeted intervention improves the reading and language skills of children with Down syndrome

Posted on by Frank Buckley

A landmark research study has shown that a targeted teaching intervention accelerates progress in reading and language development for children with Down syndrome. The primary results of the study are now available online, ahead of publication in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. The study was the first large controlled trial of an intervention designed for children with Down syndrome and was led by researchers at Down Syndrome Education International working with colleagues at the Centre for Reading and Language at the University of York. DSE will be publishing a handbook and other resources, and providing training and support services, to help teachers successfully implement the new reading and language intervention.

The first scientific paper from a landmark randomized controlled trial of a reading and language intervention for children with Down syndrome is now available online ahead of publication in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. This three year study involved nearly 60 children in schools in York and Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. It was funded by the UK Big Lottery Fund.

Professor Sue Buckley OBE, Director of Science and Research at Down Syndrome Education International commented, “We are delighted to have successfully completed this large and rigorous study and to have published the first paper reporting our findings in a leading scientific journal. We are now looking forward to publishing the intervention in full and helping families and educators around the world to use these findings to improve outcomes for children with Down syndrome.”

The intervention

The Reading and Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome is designed to supplement and support literacy instruction at school. It builds on best literacy teaching practice for all children and on the best scientific evidence for effective interventions to help children who are struggling with reading or have language delay. The intervention incorporates these evidence-based approaches while adapting the teaching methods to best suit the developmental profile and meet the learning needs that are common among children with Down syndrome.

The intervention involves daily 40 minute (or two 20 minute), one-to-one teaching sessions that offer carefully structured and targeted language and reading instruction. Each session is split into two halves: one focusing on reading (sight words, letters and sounds, book reading), the other on language (vocabulary, spoken and written language and grammar). Although a common structure is provided, the intervention is tailored to match the abilities and interests of each individual child through an initial and ongoing assessment process. The intervention is delivered in weekly (5 day) cycles including 4 days of new learning and a revision and consolidation day.

The study

To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention for children with Down syndrome, researchers at Down Syndrome Education International and at the Centre for Language and Reading at the University of York conducted a multicenter randomized, waiting list controlled trial. This design enabled us to rigorously assess the benefits of the intervention by comparing the progress of children receiving the intervention with a matched control group who were receiving ‘teaching-as-usual’.

The study involved 57 children with Down syndrome who were aged between 5 and 10 years at the start of the study. All of the children were enrolled in mainstream primary schools. There were no other restrictions for entry into the study, and a wide range of abilities were represented among the children.

The children were randomly assigned to one of two groups – an initial intervention group and a group who waited to receive the intervention after the initial group. During the first 20-week phase of the trial, children in the initial intervention group received the new instruction, while children in the waiting list control group received their usual literacy teaching. During the second 20-week phase of the trial, the children in the waiting list control group began to receive the teaching program, while the children in the initial intervention group also continued to receive the intervention. During these first two phases, the children’s Teaching Assistants received training and resources to help them implement the program, and were offered regular support and advice by the research team. During a third and final 20-week phase, both groups continued to receive the intervention, but with reduced support from the research team.

The findings

The first paper from the study reports the primary findings of the controlled (first) phase of the trial and the second phase during which the original wait group started the intervention.

Three children dropped out of the study, but all (54) remaining children were included in analysis regardless of whether they completed the whole intervention. This intention-to-treat analysis is designed to assess whether the intervention, offers benefits when applied generally in real-life practice.

The children were assessed using a variety of language and reading measures prior to the first intervention period, following the initial controlled intervention phase and following the introduction of the intervention for the original wait group – please refer to the paper for full details. At the end of the initial period, the intervention group had made more rapid progress on many of the measures than the waiting list control group. The most marked differences in rates of progress between the two groups were observed among the skills that were most directly targeted by the intervention with the differences reaching statistical significance for four primary outcome measures: single word reading, letter-sound knowledge, phoneme blending and taught vocabulary.

When the children in the waiting list control group received the intervention, their rates of progress also accelerated – similar to the gains in the original intervention group. This again indicates that the intervention is effective for a broad range of children with Down syndrome.

We also examined the influence of factors that might have affected the how beneficial the intervention was. We found that age, attendance and receptive language skills were significant predictors of rates of progress, with those who were younger, who undertook more teaching sessions, and who had better receptive language skills at the start benefitting from the intervention the most.

Dr Kelly Burgoyne, a Research Psychologist at Down Syndrome Education International who led the study commented, “We are very pleased with the results that clearly indicate the benefits offered by the intervention. We are also pleased with the feedback that we have received from teaching assistants and families about how helpful and enjoyable the intervention has been. We are already starting to pursue new avenues of research based on these results and considering how we will be able to continue to improve the program in the future.”

The handbook and DVD, further resources, training and support services

Down Syndrome Education International will be publishing a comprehensive handbook, complete with example session plans and resources, and a DVD illustrating how the intervention is delivered. We expect to publish this practical and detailed guide in late June – in time for teachers and teaching assistants to prepare to implement the intervention from the beginning of the new school year.

Online guidance will also be available. We expect to publish this in August. From September, we will also be offering additional session plans for download, and a variety of training and support options, including distance learning courses and online seminars, to help ensure successful adoption of the new intervention.

Find out more

To stay informed of all the latest news and developments at DSE, please sign up for our mailing list.

You can also find out more about the Reading and Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome by joining us online at one of our forthcoming online events. At these free events, DSE researchers will explain the trail and the design of the intervention, and present their findings. There will also be opportunities to ask us questions.

  • 15 May 2012 – 19:00 British Summer Time (11.00am Los Angeles, 2.00pm New York, 16:00 GMT, 20:00 Paris) – Register now…
  • 16 May 2012 – 09:30 British Summer Time (08:30 GMT, 10:30 Paris, 12:30 Moscow, 14:00 New Delhi, 18:30 Sydney, 20:30 Auckland) – Register now…

Continuing research

The reading and language intervention study is one of a continuing series of studies and rigorous trials of developmental interventions for children with Down syndrome led by Down Syndrome Education International. Commenting on today’s findings, Frank Buckley, the charity’s CEO said, “We are thrilled to have completed this landmark trial and published the results. Developmental and educational research continues to lead the way in improving our understanding of the learning difficulties associated with the condition and in improving cognition and academic achievement for young people with Down syndrome. Yet, despite these tangible advances, high quality, evidence-based practice is not universal. To ensure that the best teaching is offered all children, we remain focused on practical scientific research that establishes high standards of evidence for interventions that are specifically designed to be easy to implement.”

How you can help

The study is supported by the UK Big Lottery Fund and is costing £0.5 million (€0.6 million or $0.8 million). Frank Buckley commented, “Funding for scientific research for people with Down syndrome is disproportionately poor when compared to other disabling conditions. Furthermore, despite the strong promise of highly beneficial results in the short term, funding for developmental and educational research is a relatively small proportion of overall Down syndrome research spending. We are therefore particularly grateful for the substantial funding awarded by the Big Lottery Fund. We have plans ready for several more similar trials that could transform practice in early intervention and education, tackling key issues such as improving speech clarity, expressive language, comprehension and working memory. We are actively seeking funds for these vital studies.”

To support developmental and educational research, you can donate to Down Syndrome Education International or Down Syndrome Education USA:

DSE to launch new reading and language intervention

Posted on by Frank Buckley

DSE will launch a new reading and language intervention for children with Down syndrome in June. This structured programme is designed to teach literacy skills to children with Down syndrome. It has been shown to improve language and reading outcomes in a landmark randomised controlled intervention trial.

The Reading and Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome combines reading and language instruction in daily teaching sessions that are designed to meet the particular learning needs of children with Down syndrome. It incorporates work on letter knowledge, phonological awareness, whole word and book reading. In addition to these key components of effective reading interventions, the programme integrates the teaching of vocabulary and connected spoken and written language to help children with Down syndrome overcome some of the challenges associated with their particular language difficulties.

The programme was designed by leading researchers in the fields of reading development and Down syndrome and evaluated in a landmark randomised controlled intervention trial. The trial was funded by the UK Big Lottery Fund and conducted by researchers at Down Syndrome Education International and at the Centre for Reading and Language at the University of York. This study compared the progress of primary/elementary children with Down syndrome receiving the intervention with the progress of children receiving routine reading instruction in inclusive primary school settings in two areas in the United Kingdom. After 20 weeks, children receiving the programme had made significantly more progress on key reading and language outcome measures than children in the control group.

The first scientific paper from the study, reporting the primary trial results, will be published in the first half of 2012. We will also be publishing a web site describing the intervention and study results, a handbook for teachers and teaching assistants detailing how to deliver the intervention, and supplementary resources to support implementation of the program.

Further details of the publications and other training opportunities will be published shortly. Please sign up for emails to be kept informed.

New southern England advice mornings announced

Posted on by Frank Buckley

We are hosting a series of free advice mornings for families of children with Down syndrome – thanks to the generosity of a private donor. The mornings will be held at The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth, UK.

Commencing in January 2012, Down Syndrome Education International will be holding advice mornings for the families of children with Down syndrome at The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth.

During these informal sessions, DSE staff will offer information and advice about their child’s development and education, respond to questions and offer the opportunity to learn more about our research, publications and services. Many of the sessions will be led by Professor Sue Buckley OBE, an internationally-recognised expert in the development of children with Down syndrome with over 40 years’ experience as a scientist and as a parent.

We will offer guidance about all aspects of early development and school education, including play and early learning, speech, language and communication, reading and literacy, numeracy, effective inclusion, self-help and independence, and social skills and behaviour.

Dates of forthcoming advice mornings

11 January 2012 – Preschool (birth to 5 years) advice morning

15 February 2012 – School (primary and secondary) advice morning

13 March 2012 – Preschool (birth to 5 years) advice morning

10 April 2012 – School (primary and secondary) advice morning

17 May 2012 – Preschool (birth to 5 years) advice morning

7 June 2012 – School (primary and secondary) advice morning

Each advice morning runs from 10.00am to 12.00pm. Limited free parking is available at The Sarah Duffen Centre. Plenty of metered parking is also available nearby.

You are welcome to bring your child with Down syndrome and also brothers and sisters. You may also bring therapists, teachers and teaching assistants who work with your child if that would be helpful. Please indicate any children and guests on the registration form.

We request that you register to attend so that we can anticipate attendee numbers. We also suggest a £20 donation. This is optional (thanks to the support of a private donor), but if you are able to afford it, your donation will help us continue to offer more of these advice sessions for more families in the future.

To register, please use our online form or call 023 9285 5330.

Improving education for children with Down syndrome in 2012

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Today, children with Down syndrome are learning more than ever before thanks to developmental research. In 2012, our research will deliver more than ever before to improve education for children with Down syndrome everywhere.

Developmental research has consistently delivered substantial improvements in the lives of young people with Down syndrome for over three decades
DSE plays a vital role undertaking and sponsoring new studies and ensuring that research is translated into everyday teaching practice
During the past year alone, we have completed two ground-breaking randomized controlled trials of reading and language and memory training interventions
Our new, rigorously-evaluated reading and language teaching scheme for school children will be launched in mid-2012
We will continue to publish further steps in our See and Learn early learning programs
In 2012, we expect to start major new research studies, based in both the US and the UK

When my daughter was born 42 years ago, she had no right to education because few believed people with Down syndrome could learn. Only 30 years ago, when I began our first research into early reading, I was told by some that I was wasting my time.

Since then, developmental research has repeatedly shown what children with Down syndrome can achieve when given the right opportunities.

Today, many children are benefiting from evidence-based approaches in early intervention and education.

These changes are transforming the lives of many thousands of children with Down syndrome around the world today.

Our contribution

Many scientists have contributed to these advances – not only those employed and sponsored by DSE. We have played (and continue to play) a vital role undertaking and sponsoring new studies, encouraging collaboration among researchers around the world, and ensuring that research is translated into everyday teaching practice.

Our achievements in 2011

During the past year alone, we have completed two ground-breaking randomized controlled trials of reading and language and memory training interventions, published new early learning resources, helped to begin to bring change to the services available for people with Down syndrome and their families in Eastern Europe, and provided reliable, evidence-based advice and information to over 120,000 people worldwide – reaching 20,000 more than in 2010 – through our publications and training services.

Our plans for 2012

Over the coming year, we will publish our new reading and language teaching scheme for school children with Down syndrome. This scheme has been rigorously tested in a large randomized controlled trial – the first ever for children with Down syndrome. We will work to ensure this scheme improves teaching for over 30,000 children with Down syndrome within the first two years following the global launch in June 2012.

We will continue to publish further steps in our See and Learn early learning programs helping to support early speech, language and reading, memory and number skills development, and to develop more translations and adaptations. See and Learn programs are already helping over 20,000 children.

We will overhaul and update our most popular web sites, making them easier to navigate and ensuring that they continue to offer the most up-to-date, evidence-based information available to the 15,000 people who visit them each week.

We expect to start major new research studies, based in both the US and the UK. We will evaluate new approaches to improving reading comprehension, supporting early language learning, improving speech clarity, training short-term and working memory and strengthening problem solving skills.

We are confident that our practical and targeted developmental research will lead to further breakthroughs for children with Down syndrome of all ages and abilities. Through our publications and services we will ensure that these breakthroughs continue to help children with Down syndrome everywhere.

The best return on investment

The developmental research that DSE supports is practical and has a solid track record of delivering real improvements in the lives of people with Down syndrome. We do not promise miracles, but we do promise continued improvements in educational outcomes and life opportunities today and tomorrow.

At a time when the budgets of many governments, charities and families are increasingly constrained, being able to demonstrate what really does help children with Down syndrome ensures that scarce resources deliver the best results.

Developmental research helps schools, therapists, early years services and charities to continually improve their services. By improving the services provided with taxpayers’ and donors’ funding, this research ensures that many thousands of children with Down syndrome will have the opportunities to achieve more for years to come.

How you can help

You can help us by donating – either to Down Syndrome Education International (a UK charity) or to Down Syndrome Education USA (a US nonprofit).

You can also help us by encouraging others to give – perhaps by encouraging families and friends to consider donations, or by organizing a fundraising event.

However you choose to help and however much you can afford to give, you can be sure that your support will ensure that opportunities and outcomes continue to improve for people with Down syndrome, helping them to live ever more fulfilling lives.

Thank you for your support.

Professor Sue Buckley OBE
Director of Research
Down Syndrome Education International

Runners of all ages head out to raise funds

Posted on by Frank Buckley

This weekend runners of all ages will take to the streets of Portsmouth – Down Syndrome Education International’s home city – to raise funds to improve education for young people with Down syndrome.

Ethan, Adam and Ryan Buckley will be among the younger runners supporting Down Syndrome Education International this weekend

The Great South Run and the Mini and Junior Great South Runs take place this weekend in Portsmouth, southern England.

Among those participating in the Great South Run on Sunday 30 October are Down Syndrome Education International Trustee, Nick Campsie, and CEO, Frank Buckley. Joining them are friends and relatives of young people with Down syndrome, including Mark Blake, Mark Ireland, Diccon Murphy and Mike Wainhouse.

Heading out on Saturday 29 October in aid of the charity are Ethan (5) and Adam (7) Buckley running the Mini Great South Run, and Ryan Buckley (9) running the Junior South Run.

Please join us in wishing everyone who is participating in the runs this weekend the best, and please, if you can, give them your support:

DSE Christmas cards now available

Posted on by Frank Buckley


Our Christmas cards are now on sale. Our exclusive designs include many by children with Down syndrome. Over 50% of the price paid supports research and services to ensure better education for children everywhere.

Down Syndrome Education International’s Christmas cards are now on sale. We have a selection of exclusive designs, many created by children  with Down syndrome.

Buying your Christmas cards direct from us means more of your money goes to charity – at least 50% of the price paid for our cards supports Down Syndrome Education International’s work to improve education for children with Down syndrome.

The cards are A6 (150mm x 105mm/6′ x 4′ approx.) in size, printed in full colour on card from sustainable mixed sources. The message inside reads “Season’s Greetings”. The cards are provided with envelopes made from recycled paper.

They are available from our UK store for £2.00 for 10 cards or £8.00 for 50 cards, and from our US store priced $4.00 for 10 cards or $16.00 for 50 cards (plus VAT/sales tax and shipping as applicable).

New online stores now open

Posted on by Frank Buckley

We have launched new and improved online stores making it easier to order publications from our UK and US offices. In addition to our See and Learn resources, DVDs and Down Syndrome Issues and Information books, we also supply other recommended publications including the Numicon number teaching resources.

We have recently launched new online stores that offer simpler navigation and a cleaner layout, and that will accommodate new electronic publications we plan to launch in the coming months. Our US store (store.dseusa.org) ships from Down Syndrome Education USA’s offices in California and our UK store (store.dseenterprises.org) ships from our offices in southern England.

We offer a wide range of publications, including our See and Learn early learning programmes, the Down Syndrome Issues and Information series of books, our early development and inclusion DVDs, and recommended resources from other publishers including the Numicon number teaching resources.

The new stores will also support the supply of digital products in future, ready for new digital editions of current and forthcoming publications.

We hope you like the new stores. Please let us know what you think (feedback@dseenterprises.org).

Punky goes global

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Punky - the first ever animated cartoon featuring a lead character with Down Syndrome - is going global with Target Entertainment. Target has pledged to donate half of global sales commissions to support Down Syndrome Education International’s work to improve education for young people with Down syndrome.

Punky is an original animated TV series which tells the stories from the everyday life of Punky, a six-year-old girl, who has Down syndrome. Punky is a happy little girl who loves music, dancing and hugs! She loves playing with her big brother, Con, and jumping around with her dog, Rufus. She enjoys helping around the house with Mum and trying to make Cranky, her grandmother, just a little less cranky. As a child with Down syndrome, Punky lives in the moment. If something isn’t right, if someone has a problem, Punky will set out to fix it. To Punky, the solution is always simple.

The series was created by Lindsay J. Sedgwick, developed and produced by Monster Animation, a Dublin-based, and commissioned by RTÉ Young People’s programmes, with financial assistance from RTÉ, the Irish Film Board, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision Fund and S481 Film Incentive.

The character of Punky is voiced by Aimee Richardson, who herself has Down syndrome and Down Syndrome Ireland provided support and reviewed material during development and production of the series.

Pat Clarke, the Chief Executive of Down Syndrome Ireland said: “Greater diversity in how people with disabilities are portrayed in the media is really vital and Punky, with her energetic, fun and curious nature, avoids all stereotypes.”

Punky takes a fresh approach at illuminating one of the key concepts underlying children’s television schedules today, the acceptance of diversity in society. Through their extensive research and development, the creator and writers have a produced a series of stories that are entirely true to life, engaging and full of elements that are very attractive to children. Punky is a light-hearted, fun and exciting series at the heart of which lies an exceptional child.

The global rights to sell Punky were recently acquired by Target Entertainment – a leading rights management businesses, based in the UK. Target has pledged to donate half of global sales commissions to support DSE’s work to improve education for young people with Down syndrome.

CEO of Target Alison Rayson, revealed why the series is so special to her saying “When I first saw Punky I felt an immediate connection to her because of my own son Jack who also has Down syndrome and is three and a half. I have been thinking for some time about how Target could become involved in an animated show with a lead character that had Down syndrome and it seems like fate that a colleague one day last year asked me if I had heard about Monster’s new show Punky.”

Frank Buckley, CEO of Down Syndrome Education International, “Punky is a delightful and pioneering series that explores the world through the eyes of a young girl with Down syndrome. Quirky, imaginative and engaging, Punky encourages us to see every child as an individual. We are delighted to be associated with the global release of the series and thrilled with Target Entertainment’s support for better education for children with Down syndrome.”

Programme announced for Research Forum 2011

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Down Syndrome Education International is hosting the UK and Europe Down Syndrome Research Forum 2011 next week at The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth, UK. Researchers and postgraduate students from throughout the UK and Europe are invited to attend.

This is an exciting time for research into Down syndrome. Scientific understanding of the condition continues to advance, yielding new opportunities for better therapies, treatments and education. The first major controlled trials of targeted developmental and educational interventions are drawing to a close, and more are planned. Always popular and informative, this year’s UK and Europe Down Syndrome Research Forum promises to be particularly interesting.

The 2011 UK and Europe Down Syndrome Research Forum will be hosted Down Syndrome Education International at The Sarah Duffen Centre, Portsmouth, UK, on 13 and 14 October. Researchers and postgraduate students from throughout the UK and Europe are invited to attend. The forum is usually well attended by researchers in the field and can be particularly helpful for postgraduate students. We encourage students to give short presentations of their work (15-20 minutes) even if they are only in the planning stage.

The Research Forum provides an opportunity to share work in progress and seek support and advice from others working or interested in Down syndrome research.

We will provide buffet lunches and there is no fee for attending. Bed and breakfast accommodation at reasonable prices is available close to the venue. Unfortunately, we are unable to subsidise travel or accommodation costs. There will be an informal dinner during the evening of 13 October – participants pay their own costs for this but it usually a popular and valuable part of the meeting.

A few places remain. Researchers wishing to attend should send confirmation of attendance to research@dseinternational.org.

Upcoming workshops at The Sarah Duffen Centre

Posted on by Frank Buckley

We have series of workshops coming up at The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth. Presented by Professor Sue Buckley OBE, these cover effective support for development and learning in the early years, primary school years and a workshop focused on speech and language.

DSE will be running three workshops this autumn at The Sarah Duffen Centre in southern England:

Places are limited. Book online soon to avoid disappointment.

We will be announcing a spring 2012 workshops schedule later in the year. Please keep an eye on our news feed and sign up for emails for updates.

Ukrainian editions of See and Learn Language and Reading steps launched at conference in Kyiv

Posted on by Frank Buckley

The first four steps in the See and Learn Language and Reading program have been adapted and translated into Ukrainian and were launched today in Kyiv at a one-day conference on effective language teaching for children with Down syndrome.

DSE’s See and Learn programs offer clear step-by-step guidance and resources for evidence-based activities designed to promote early development for children with Down syndrome. To date, we have published UK and US English editions of six steps in two of the programs (See and Learn Language and Reading and See and Learn Speech). Today, thanks to the generous support of BNP Paribas Bank and the International Women’s Club of Kyiv, coupled with the ongoing commitment of EDB ErgoGroup, the first Ukrainian editions were published by the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation.

Staff at the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation have adapted and translated four steps in the See and Learn Language and Reading program, working in partnership with Down Syndrome Education International (See and Learn First Word Pictures, See and Learn First Words, See and Learn More Word Pictures and See and Learn First Sentences). The International Women’s Club of Kyiv funded the translations, complementing ongoing support through EDB ErgoGroup’s Ukraine Down Syndrome Project – a three year corporate social responsibility initiative that has helped the parent-led Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation to establish a centre in Kyiv, and to recruit and train specialist staff to provide support, education, advice and information service to families throughout Ukraine.

The costs of manufacturing 500 copies of each of the four kits to be supplied to Ukrainian families free of charge were raised by UkrSibbank (a member of the BNP Paribas Group) through a nationwide ‘Silver Coin’ campaign where the bank’s customers were invited to donate loose change in branches throughout the country.

The See and Learn resources were launched at a one day conference for therapists, teachers, special education students and families, held at the National Pedagogical University in Kyiv. Presented by Professor Sue Buckley OBE, DSEI’s Director of Research, the conference provided information about the language learning needs of young children with Down syndrome, the principles and evidence supporting effective speech, language and reading teaching approaches, and a practical demonstration of the activities in each of the See and Learn Language and Reading steps.

Over 200 people participated in the conference, including over 100 professionals from schools, orphanages and children’s centres across Ukraine.

A press conference raising awareness of effective teaching techniques for children with Down syndrome attracted journalists from several Ukrainian news organisations, including national TV channels.

About the Ukraine Down Syndrome Project

The Ukraine Down Syndrome Project is a three year corporate social responsibility initiative of EDB ErgoGroup - a leading Nordic IT company. Through this project, Down Syndrome Education International is providing expert guidance, information resources and consulting services to the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation - a parent-led charity, based in Kyiv – helping it to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families throughout Ukraine.

Since starting the project in July 2010, we have helped the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation acquire and refurbish a services centre in Kyiv, employ specialist staff, translate and publish up-to-date information about health and medical care, early intervention and education for people with Down syndrome. Infopulse - a subsidiary of EDB ErgoGroup headquartered in Kyiv - has provided extensive assistance and volunteer support for the project, including the development of the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation’s web site.

In the eleven months since opening the centre in Kyiv, the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation has enrolled 324 families in regular services including new parent support groups, early education classes, and information seminars. In addition, information and training has been provided to hundreds of professionals through conferences, seminars and translated information resources.

Over 1,000 people throughout Ukraine have already benefited directly from the project, which has attracted the support of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, and Kyiv City education and children’s services. The project has helped to establish parent support groups around the country, encouraged the formation of a Ukrainian Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group, and is now developing outreach services to improve support for people with Down syndrome living in orphanages and institutions.

Southern England advice mornings announced

Posted on by Frank Buckley

We are pleased to announce that we are holding free, drop-in advice mornings at The Sarah Duffen Centre over the next few months.

We are holding a series of drop-in advice mornings at The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth, southern England. Led by Professor Sue Buckley OBE, these mornings will offer guidance about development and education, and provide information about available resources and support services from DSE and other providers.

  • Tue 27 September, 10.00am – 12.00pm – Advice and information morning for families of babies and infants (0-18 months)
  • Wed 28 September, 10.00am – 12.00pm – Advice and information morning for families of preschool children (18 months to 5 years)
  • Wed 12 October, 10.00am – 12.00pm – Advice and information morning for families of school children (5 to 16 years)
  • Wed 16 November, 10.00am – 12.00pm – Advice and information morning for families of babies and infants (0-18 months)
  • Wed 14 December, 10.00am – 12.00pm – Advice and information morning for families of preschool children (18 months to 5 years)

Please note that spaces are limited. Please email info@dseinternational.org to book a place, confirming your name, child’s name and date of birth, and the names of anyone accompanying you.

Dinner at Claridge’s to raise funds for Down syndrome charities

Posted on by Frank Buckley

A fabulous dinner at Claridge’s on 31 October will be raising funds for Down Syndrome Education International and the Lejeune Clinic for Children with Down’s Syndrome at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in London. The proceeds will be split between the two charities, with funds raised for Down Syndrome Education International supporting high-impact scientific research, and wide-reaching information and advice services.

Claridge’s - the iconic luxury Mayfair hotel – will be the venue for a prestigious fundraising event co-hosted by Caroline Armstrong-Jones and Meredith Shelton to improve healthcare and education for children with Down syndrome. As the mothers of young people with Down syndrome, they have first-hand experience of the importance of knowledgeable medical care, effective early intervention and raising standards in education for people with Down syndrome.

With the generous assistance of Bentley’s Entertainments, a renowned international event organiser, and an Event Committee including Lady Lucinda Dashwood, Sarah Marchioness of Milford Haven, Marina Ritossa and General The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, the event promises to be a highly successful and memorable occasion. Tickets cost £250 each and tables will seat 10 guests.

Frank Buckley, CEO of Down Syndrome Education International, said “We are thrilled with the support of Caroline, Meredith and everyone helping on the committee. The importance of evidence-based healthcare and education for young people with Down syndrome cannot be overstated, and we are delighted that they have chosen to support our pioneering education research and global services that help improve the lives of many thousands of children with Down syndrome throughout the UK and in over 180 countries worldwide.”

Tickets can be ordered from Down Syndrome Education International online or by calling 023 9285 5331.

Research updates live online

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Join DSE researchers live online to hear the latest on our classroom language and reading intervention trial and our trial of computer-based memory training for children with Down syndrome.

Two of the first controlled trials of interventions designed to improve cognitive development and learning for children with Down syndrome are drawing to a close. Final assessments are complete and data analysis is underway in both DSE’s landmark classroom language and reading intervention trial and our pioneering evaluation of computer based memory training.

Join us online to find out more about what we have found so far, the implications for education practice, how we will be publishing and supporting the roll-out of the classroom language and reading programme in 2012, and what future studies are in the pipeline.

The online sessions are free – simply register using the links below:

New apps aim to help early development

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Down Syndrome Education International is working with developers to create new learning opportunities for children with Down syndrome using portable devices including iPads and iPods. Recently released apps support language, memory and number skills development.

Computerised educational activities have the potential to offer significant benefits for young people with Down syndrome, with an emphasis on the visual presentation of information and opportunities to encourage lots of practice. DSE is working with partners in the UK, Europe and the US to create apps that target the developmental needs and learning styles of young people with Down syndrome. Some of the first of these apps are now available.

Special Words from Special iApps

Special Words teaches children to recognise written words, using pictures and sounds, on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The app has 3 games with increasing difficulty, Match Pictures, Match Words and Match Both.

Special Words comes with the vocabulary and pictures from the early steps of DSE’s See and Learn Language and Reading programme, comprising of 96 written words children use in their early vocabulary.

It includes matching pictures, written and spoken words, in 8 languages: American and British English, Spanish, Catalan, French, German, Italian and Swedish. Users can easily replace the words and re-record the audio in any other language their child uses. Users can add more words, pictures and sounds for family members, friends, and familiar objects, to increase their child’s interest, and further develop their vocabulary.

Special Words was developed by Special iApps, a social enterprise founded by parents of a child with Down syndrome who have many years of experience in both education and software. Special iApps is donating a proportion of the global sales of Special Words to Down Syndrome Education International.

Memory Fun and Counting Fun from Felix Education Apps

Memory Fun is a memory game where the user has to remember the position of picture cards in order to recall the location of two matching cards. Starting with just four cards to choose from, up to 18 cards can be displayed with a vocabulary of over 100 words.

Counting Fun is a simple counting game designed to encourage practising counting from 1 to 10. Sound effects and animation engage the child’s attention while they tap each item displayed on the screen to hear and see each digit.

Felix Education Apps is a family run business based in Oslo, Norway, designing educational apps. Felix Education Apps is donating a proportion of the global sales of their apps to Down Syndrome Education International.

Keep an eye on our news pages, Facebook or Twitter feeds, and sign up for emails to find out about new apps when they become available.

UK and Europe Down Syndrome Research Forum 2011

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Down Syndrome Education International will host the UK and Europe Down Syndrome Research Forum 2011 on October 13 and 14 at The Sarah Duffen Centre in Portsmouth, UK. Researchers and postgraduate students from throughout the UK and Europe are invited to attend to share work in progress and seek support and advice from others working or interested in Down syndrome research.

This is an exciting time for research into Down syndrome. Scientific understanding of the condition continues to advance, yielding new opportunities for better therapies, treatments and education. The first major controlled trials of targeted developmental and educational interventions are drawing to a close, and more are planned. Always popular and informative, this year’s UK and Europe Down Syndrome Research Forum promises to be particularly interesting.

The 2011 UK and Europe Down Syndrome Research Forum will be hosted Down Syndrome Education International at The Sarah Duffen Centre, Portsmouth, UK, on 13 and 14 October. Researchers and postgraduate students from throughout the UK and Europe are invited to attend. The forum is usually well attended by researchers in the field and can be particularly helpful for postgraduate students. We encourage students to give short presentations of their work (15-20 minutes) even if they are only in the planning stage.

The Research Forum provides an opportunity to share work in progress and seek support and advice from others working or interested in Down syndrome research. There will be presentations on early reading development and reading interventions, memory training, language development, speech-motor development, sleep, autism, early family communication in young children with Down syndrome and problem solving in toddlers. We welcome submissions on a wide range of topics.

We will provide buffet lunches and there is no fee for attending. Bed and breakfast accommodation at reasonable prices is available close to the venue. Unfortunately, we are unable to subsidise travel or accommodation costs. There will be an informal dinner during the evening of 13 October – participants pay their own costs for this but it usually a popular and valuable part of the meeting.

Researchers wishing to attend should send confirmation of attendance and (if wishing to present) a 250-300 word abstract to research@dseinternational.org by 16 September.

Registration opens for Down Syndrome Education Conference in Charlotte, NC, USA

Posted on by Frank Buckley

Registration is now open for the Down Syndrome Education Conference being held in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 20-22, 2011, hosted by the The Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte.

We are presenting a Down Syndrome Education Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 20-22, 2011, organised and hosted by The Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte. The event is being held at The Blake Hotel in Charlotte.

DSE speakers, including Professor Sue Buckley and Dr Kelly Burgoyne will be presenting in-depth (two day) tracks covering early intervention and early years education, elementary education, and speech and language therapy (October 20-21), and essentials (one day) tracks covering early intervention and early years education, elementary education, and high school education.