Our achievements
Over the last 30 years, our work has led to many
key advancements in research and education for
individuals with Down syndrome.
Research achievements
Since 1979, our continuous programme of developmental and educational
research has led to many key
advances in our understanding of Down syndrome. We have improved
understanding of the condition and pioneered effective teaching methods
that deliver marked improvements in the development of speech, language,
reading and cognitive skills.
Publishing achievements
Over the past 20 years, the charity has published newsletters, books,
teaching materials, an academic journal, and a periodical for parents
and practitioners:
- Web sites - we have published books, newsletters
and journal articles online since 1996. Web site visits are set to have
tripled over the 2 years to August 2009 with over 75,000 people now
making repeat visits to our primary information web site (Down
Syndrome Online) and we are publishing our
See and
Learn resources online
- Down
Syndrome Research and Practice -
in 1993, the charity launched a specialist academic journal
to promote the exchange of information and research findings among the
international academic and professional communities.
Down
Syndrome Research and Practice is now the leading international
academic journal publishing original scientific
papers addressing the full range of issues
involved in the care and development of
individuals with Down syndrome.
- Down Syndrome Issues and Information
- this unique range of books examines issues relevant to the lives of people
with Down syndrome from birth to old age. It has been the charity’s most
ambitious publishing project to date and provides a comprehensive
reference resource for families and professionals in a variety of
disciplines. The Education and
Development series and the Adult
Living series are now nearing completion, and the
Health series will be completed in
2010.
With 33 Down Syndrome Issues and Information books available to date,
the charity has already sold over 90,000 copies of the English editions
around the world.
Much of the Down Syndrome Issues and Information Education and
Development series has been translated and published in Spanish. Several
books have also been translated and published in Norwegian, Arabic and
Vietnamese. Discussions are underway for further translations and
adaptations.
- Video films - since our earliest research projects, we have produced practical videos
for parents and professionals. More recently, we have been developing a
new series of films – Down Syndrome in
Practice.
- Mail order service -
We operate a specialist mail order service,
supplying recommended books, teaching materials and videos. In early
2009, we opened an online store and in mid-2009 we will open a US online
store and North American distribution service. We currently serve 4,900
customers in 67 countries.
Training achievements
Down Syndrome Education International staff regularly present at many
conferences and workshops around the world.
Over the past 2 years, staff from the charity have led over 60 seminars
and workshops in over 35 locations, reaching over 7,000 participants.
These included workshops for parents, training course for practitioners
and scientific conferences for researchers.
In 2009, we launched a new global programme of
Down Syndrome Education Conferences, offering expert information and
training for families and professionals. The conferences include
targeted tracks covering the nursery/kindergarten, primary/elementary
and secondary/high school years, offering unique opportunities for
support, advice and professional development.
Consulting achievements
The charity offers specialist consulting
services to organisations, schools, education and health authorities
and individual assessment services to
families. In recent years, we have provided consulting services to
nonprofit organisations in the UK, the USA and Russia, and to schools
and government organisations in the UK and the USA.
Education achievements
Down Syndrome
Education International offers preschool early intervention and support
services to families within 70 miles of The Sarah Duffen Centre in
Portsmouth. The service offers expert advice on speech, language,
communication, social and motors skills development. It also provides a
supported group for longitudinal early years research and programme
development and evaluation.
Similarly, Down Syndrome Education USA is
working with the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County supporting its
Learning Program
serving over 100 families in southern California.
We have supported
inclusion in schools near our research and education centre in
Portsmouth, UK, since 1986.
Outreach achievements
In
2008, Down Syndrome Education International initiated efforts to
improve
the impact of our work in low and middle income countries. We have begun
to develop partnerships in Africa, southern Asia and Eastern Europe. In
2009, we began our first major outreach project in Ukraine through a
Corporate Social Responsibility partnership initiative with EDB Business
Partner ASA, a leading Nordic IT company.
In March 2009, we launched a
public Global Education Fund and appeal for support for further outreach
work.
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