Down syndrome (or Trisomy 21) is a condition in which a person has an extra 21st chromosome. Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes, making up a total of 46. However, people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome added onto the 21st pair, making 47 in total. Approximately 1 in every 800 babies will be born with Down syndrome. The cause is unknown and understood to occur naturally.
People with Down syndrome usually have an intellectual disability, however the level of their abilities and difficulties will differ. Babies born with Down syndrome are at increased risk of heart defects, hearing loss, vision problems, sleep disorders, and digestive issues. People with Down syndrome can often experience difficulty with their speech and communication, cognitive understanding, behavioural issues, and a higher prevalence of autism spectrum disorder.
World Down Syndrome Day
On 21 March every year, we celebrate and raise awareness of Down syndrome with the hope of improving the understanding and support for people with Down syndrome. The significance of the date is very cleverly picked to represent the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome.
The theme this year is to call the Government into action to provide better support systems for people with Down syndrome in our communities. With the goal of empowering them to enjoy their rights to make important decisions about their lives; live independently in the community; be included in education; access good healthcare; have a job and be included at work; take part in culture, leisure and sport; vote and take part in politics and access justice.
In our view, the starting point for being able to access the rights listed above, is Education. Understanding how best to provide Special Educational Needs support is crucial to ensuring that people with Down syndrome are given the opportunities to thrive and have access to the education that they deserve. All people with Down syndrome, for the reasons set out above, are likely to require additional support in school. The amount and type of support will vary according to the needs of the individual person.
How can you ensure that your child or young person with Down syndrome is supported in their education?
Some examples may include:
- Providing access to visual learning techniques, by introducing images and videos, charts and colourful displays into the learning process and having information in larger print can help in committing the learning to memory in an easier way.
- Providing them with Speech and Language therapy. Many children and young people with Down Syndrome face communication challenges and Speech and Language Therapists can help them to identify ways to better communicate within their environment.
- Setting realistic and achievable goals within their education setting. Having something to work towards that is achievable encourages participation and helps with tracking progress. Goals need to be adjusted to the capabilities of the individual to help them celebrate learning.
- Providing them with Occupational Therapy to support them to develop life and independence skills to enable them to live a full and to live as independently as possible when they transition to adulthood.
The Children and Families Act 2014, and the associated Code of Practice sets out many of the legal protections and rights for children and young people with special educational needs living in England, including what support your child can get in school or their education setting. For many this will include an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which should incorporate the examples of support set out above.
An EHCP is a legal document which sets out the education, healthcare, and social care needs of a child with special educational needs. These are prepared following a formal assessment, called an Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment (EHC NA). The purpose of the EHCP is to set out the special educational needs that the child has (Section B), and the provision and therapies that are required to meet those needs (Section F), in order that the child can achieve the goals/outcomes set in Section E of the EHCP. A type of school or a specific school should be named in Section I of the EHCP. EHCPs can be issued to a child or young person from 0-25 years. In order for the child or young person to get the right support in school, the EHCP needs to accurately reflect their needs and the specific provision to support those needs. Local Authorities have a duty to meet the needs set out in Section B and to fund the provision in Section F and I of the EHCP.
How we can help
At Enable Law we have a dedicated education team with decades of experience in supporting parents to secure the right education provision to meet their children’s needs. Having some of the most respected education solicitors in the field, we are well equipped to support families with children with diverse needs living across England.
If you need advice in relation to this area or any other area of special educational needs and your child’s education, please contact us on 0800 044 8488 or by filling in our contact form so we can give you a call back at a time that works for you.
Join us, this World Down Syndrome Day, by sporting your bright, bold, and odd socks, to raise awareness for the improvements that are required to support people with Down syndrome to thrive in our communities: Lots Of Socks campaign – World Down Syndrome Day.
