Research projects

Over the past 30 years, The Down Syndrome Educational has systematically examined the wide range of developmental, educational, social and health issues that are, and continue to be, relevant to people living with Down syndrome and their families.

Our current and planned research projects will continue to deliver practical results that lead to improved educational and developmental outcomes for young people with Down syndrome.

• Find out more about our research activities...

Current research projects

Our current and planned research projects include investigations into early support, learning and development, motor skills, child development and school education, and adolescence and adulthood:

• Research projects
  • Early support, learning and development
    • Longitudinal study of influences on early development
    • Attachment and behaviour
    • Early social communication
    • Problem solving in young children
    • The development and impact of reading skills
    • Effectiveness of responsive teaching
    • Parental concerns and experiences of support in the pre-school years
  • Motor skills and physical education
    • Learning to walk
    • Bike riding
  • Child development and school education
    • Speech production
    • The use of signing in primary schools
    • Improving working memory function for school-aged children
    • Factors influencing difficulties in reading comprehension
    • Reading instruction in schools
    • Maths instruction in schools
    • Social and behavioural skills and friendships among children with Down syndrome
    • The use of bi-focal glasses
    • Parental concerns and experiences about the selection of educational placements
    • School perceptions and experiences of educating children with Down syndrome
  • Adolescence and adulthood
    • Ambitions and priorities among children and teenagers with Down syndrome
    • Parental concerns and experiences about the provision of higher educational opportunities
    • Adolescence and the transition to young adulthood
  • Research and collaboration infrastructure and new technologies
    • Down Syndrome Records
    • Down Syndrome Databank