For Slayton, Chores Have Paved The Way to Skills and Confidence
Stacy Lynn shares the inspiring story of her son, Slayton Little By Little Slayton is a kind, strong, well-adjusted 16-year-old now, but...
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Welcome to
BEYOND DOWN SYNDROME
Home of
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE
for FAMILIES with
DOWN SYNDROME
Plans and Actions for Independence at Every Stage of Life
'March to Independence' - YouTube Series
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Independence
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Safety & Relationships
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Health & Wellness
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Financial/Benefits
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Legal Protection
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Continuing Education
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Community Inclusion
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Work
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Communications
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Housing Options
Independence can be scary and overwhelming, especially for those in the Down syndrome and I/DD community.
Our Independence Checkup gauges how you are progressing and provides essential guidance to keep moving forward.
After you complete this form, you will receive your score and essential information to advance your independence journey.
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Steve Friedman
- May 24
- 5 min
Independence Can be Scary!
Planning Futures with our Adults with Down Syndrome Independence for our children with Down syndrome can be quite scary, regardless of...
830
Steve Friedman
- May 17
- 4 min
Amanda's Story: Independent from Day One
Support is a springboard to a vibrant life! From the day Amanda was born, she was fighting for her life, her breath, and her...
1260
Steve Friedman
- May 9
- 7 min
5 Common Health Risks to Prepare for Now
The prevalence of these conditions within our community will shock you and become an urgent call to action! In addition to the various...
1790
Steve Friedman
- May 2
- 4 min
Dale is Empowered for Independence
Unique Approach Sparks Confidence and Independence In the 1990s I was an educator for adults with learning difficulties. I met loads of...
1540
Steve Friedman
- Apr 26
- 6 min
What Goes on in Their Head?
Adults with Down syndrome often drop subtle clues to their thoughts & dreams "Gwen May Not Speak" I've always been curious about the...
3360
Steve Friedman
- Apr 19
- 6 min
Noah's Family Bursts with Determination
Early Questions Spark Initiative and Possibilities Noah was born in June 2018, and we had no idea that he was going to have Down...
1380
Steve Friedman
- Apr 12
- 7 min
Age 18: How to Avoid Falling Off the Cliff
Two common predicaments at 18-22 and how to solve them According to many parents, when our self-advocates reach the ages of 18-22 it...
3920
Steve Friedman
- Apr 5
- 6 min
Introducing the Black Down Syndrome Association
Connecting black families to resources to improve lives in a most fulfilling way March 10, 2019 changed my life forever. The eager...
1400
Steve Friedman
- Mar 29
- 7 min
Sibling Relationships & Responsibility
Maddie shares her personal story of love & duty in our first Family Feature "This is Maddie, my big-little sister!” Gwendolyn exclaims...
1860
Steve Friedman
- Mar 21
- 6 min
Celebrate WDSD with your Essential Guide
Independence is for everyone: get the guidance to develop your roadmap and make it happen! Life is Full of Surprises Unplanned events are...
1530
Steve Friedman
- Mar 15
- 6 min
Down Syndrome and Dementia: How We All Can Help
Numerous developments over the last few decades have helped extend the average lifespan for people with Down syndrome from 25 to 65+...
2540
Steve Friedman
- Mar 8
- 6 min
Working with the Professionals
How to Learn, Challenge, Teach, and Partner with Teachers, Doctors, and More As parents, our relationship with teachers, doctors, and...
980
Steve Friedman
- Mar 1
- 7 min
Four Essential Tips for New Parents
It's Never Too Early to Prepare for Independence For new parents, independence for their child with Down syndrome may seem like only a...
6230
Steve Friedman
- Feb 22
- 5 min
The Facts & History of Down Syndrome: just the interesting stuff we should all know
Despite tremendous recent advances in the knowledge and inclusion of those with Down syndrome, there remain many misconceptions even...
2940
Steve Friedman
- Nov 10, 2022
- 5 min
5 Strategies to Achieve Self-Sufficiency
As many of you know, I've been deeply engaged in The UPLifting Guidebook Project to help guide parents and caregivers in the pursuit of...
1060
Steve Friedman
- Oct 7, 2022
- 4 min
The Who, What, When, Where, and How of Independence for our Loved Ones with DS
Independence. It sounds so freeing, so autonomous, and so empowering! Yet when we consider independence in terms of our loved ones with...
920
Steve Friedman
- Sep 11, 2022
- 7 min
Inclusion: Lifelong Choices Each Family Should Consider
To be honest, "inclusion" was always a sensitive word for us. Sure, as new parents of a beautiful daughter with Down syndrome, we had...
2400
Steve Friedman
- Jul 20, 2022
- 7 min
Empowering the wUNDERDOG!
Underdog (n): a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest; a victim of injustice or persecution I read this definition and the...
1020
Steve Friedman
- Jun 1, 2022
- 6 min
5 Most Common Health Risks for Adults with Down Syndrome
The prevalence of these conditions within our community will shock you and become urgent calls to action! In addition to the various...
1,0670
Steve Friedman
- Apr 19, 2022
- 6 min
The Rough Edges of Independence
10 Pitfalls to Prepare for in Advance We may plan for years for independence for our adults with Down syndrome by providing...
2310
Steve Friedman
- Feb 14, 2022
- 6 min
Red Flags to Watch Out for During your Residential Living Community Search
How to Identify Them Before It's Too Late Congratulations! You've prepared your family for the big move for your adult son/daughter with...
2450
Steve Friedman
- Dec 13, 2021
- 3 min
Independence Resources for Adults with Down Syndrome
It's never too early...or too late...to plan Through the Beyond Down Syndrome blogs over the last 18 months, we've covered a wide variety...
4690
Steve Friedman
- Nov 21, 2021
- 8 min
DS Independence: Finding the Right Place
The 5-Step Process to Guide You In the last couple of blogs, I've described our daughter's move out of the house and into an independent...
3770
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