Support our work

Help us to deliver a better future for people living with Down syndrome today and tomorrow. Give now...

Down Syndrome Online

Looking for information? Visit Down Syndrome Online for articles, books and other information resources
Photograph of a girl learning counting Numicon shapes

Research

Our research investigates development for people with Down syndrome.

Our research identifies and evaluates interventions that assist people with Down syndrome to achieve more.

We work to improve language development and communication skills, learning, literacy, numeracy and many other areas of cognitive, social and educational development.

Working to improve all areas of development

Our work considers all of the influences on health, development and education - from the impact of genes to the impact of inclusion.

We work to assist people with Down syndrome in all areas of development:

Photograph of a child reading digits on a number line

Strategy 2007-2012

The Trust's new strategy aims to build an innovative programme of research, that is firmly focused on issues of practical relevance to people with Down syndrome today.

Read more about our research strategy...

Photograph of a child and his mother making sounds.

Support research that works today

People with Down syndrome can lead happy and fulfilled lives. Increasingly they are being offered the opportunities to do so.

Help us continue to expand these opportunities today...

Understanding development

Our work focuses on all aspects of development for people with Down syndrome.

Addressing complexity

Many things influence development, including our genes, our families and communities, and the opportunities we are offered. We are interested in all of these - from the impact of genes to the impact of inclusion.

Real life impact

Our work examines how these things impact life for people with Down syndrome and what this means for effective support and interventions.

Evidence-based interventions

Our work has shown that educational strategies that are targeted to fit the particular learning needs of people with Down syndrome improve levels of achievement.


Research News

Reading research review by Sue Buckley published

A review by Professor Sue Buckley of the current research evidence on teaching reading and writing to individuals with Down syndrome has just been published in the new book Speech and Language Development and Intervention in Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome.

New Down syndrome research projects underway

With the backing of the Sue Buckley Research Fund, the Trust has started three new research studies involving preschool children with Down syndrome. These new studies aim to shed new light on the development of children with Down syndrome during their vital preschool years.

Support for the Sue Buckley Research Fund continues to grow

Generous supporters from all over the UK and around the world are backing the Sue Buckley Research Fund - a new fund set up by the Trust to revitalise and accelerate scientific research and education to benefit people with Down syndrome everywhere.

Trust announces new Science, Research and Intervention Advisory Board

Many of the world's leading scientists, researchers and practitioners have joined The Down Syndrome Educational Trust's new Science, Research and Intervention Advisory Board. They will help lead the Trust's expanding research activities.

The Down Syndrome Educational Trust hosts Research Directions Symposium 2007

The Down Syndrome Educational Trust recently welcomed over 70 researchers and practitioners to a symposium to discuss the current status of Down syndrome research and future directions. Leading geneticists, molecular biologists, neuroscientists and psychologists joined speech and language therapists, paediatricians and other practitioners at the meeting hosted in Portsmouth, UK. The Trust also welcomed representatives of major Down syndrome organisations from around the world to plan a future research agenda.