Working with children with Down Syndrome at the Cox Rehabilitation Center
March 21 is International Down Syndrome Day. That number has been on the calendar since 2006. The day is chosen not by chance, it has a symbolic meaning. In people with Down Syndrome, the 21st chromosome is divided into three parts, which is why it was decided to consider the 21st day of the third month as Down Syndrome Day.
English physician John Langdon Down in 1866. He first described the syndrome, which later bore his name.
It is interesting that & nbsp; The first discoverer called the disease & nbsp; & lt; & lt; Mongolism & gt; & gt; because the faces of people with the disease resembled those of the Mongoloid race, but the World Health Organization in 1965. The name was revoked at the request of Mongolian experts.
It is possible that the name of this disease will still change! Because the US National University of Health advised to change the name, explaining that Dr. Down did not have the syndrome.
Every year, 3000-5000 children are born with Down Syndrome in the world.
Children with Down syndrome have higher levels of neural activity in the form of varying degrees of mental retardation. Children have some potential for development despite external physical signs. Consequently, multifaceted stimulation of the child’s development և rehabilitation measures can give some positive results.
Cognitive development is slow, with little progress. Mental retardation is found & nbsp; almost everyone. Frequent are & nbsp; emotional և behavioral disorders that & nbsp; They are less severe than the mental retardation caused by organic brain disorders. The development of oral speech lags behind their motor-performance skills.
Caroline & nbsp; Cox Rehabilitation Center & nbsp; is regularly attended by children with a variety of diagnoses, including children with Down Syndrome. & Nbsp; According to our data, since 2007, 12 children with Down Syndrome have attended the Rehabilitation Center, some of whom have already been enrolled in public schools, and some of whom continue to receive rehabilitation treatment. Various specialists of the rehabilitation center work with them: rehabilitation therapists, psychologists, speech therapists, receive hydrotherapy, participate in art courses: pottery, painting, macrame. The center also has a sports club – tennis, which is a good way to improve the child’s physical condition, communication with peers. how often are they & nbsp; visits to public places, & nbsp; playgrounds, the main purpose of which is for children to communicate with their peers, as well as to inform the public & nbsp; & nbsp; Keeping track of the existence of these children.
Since 2007, the Center has had a Children’s Health Center, which is attended by children with physical and mental disabilities without these disabilities, ie & nbsp; it works with integration program. For normal development երեխան integration, the child should attend kindergarten, public school, communicate with peers, live a life as full as possible. Otherwise, the child will be isolated from society, will slow down its development and maturation.
Joint learning instills in the child a sense of self-respect և satisfaction with his / her own life, allows him / her to expand and improve his / her knowledge. The child should communicate with as many people as possible և this should be done first of all through kindergarten, school. & Nbsp; This is the path that will contribute to the development of a person with Down Syndrome and their integration into society.
It is necessary to instill in everyone the position that children with both healthy and special needs are equal and full members of society.