Resource Books for Parents

¨      Babies with Down syndrome 3rd Ed. By Susan Skallerup

Babies with Down Syndrome, the trustworthy guide which has benefited thousands of families since it was first published in 1985, is completely revised and updated in a new, third edition. Covering the best practices for raising and caring for children with Down syndrome through age five, this book is invaluable to new parents who have welcomed a baby with Down syndrome into their lives.

¨      Babies with Down syndrome 2nd Ed. By Karen Stray-Gundersen

This book is meant to provide new parents with a complete introduction to Down syndrome. Facts & information on care, development & education of your baby. Parent statements at the end of each chapter gives the book a real life perspective.

¨      Baby Massage The Calming Power of Touch by Dr. Alan Heath & Nicki Bainbridge

Reinforce the loving bond between parent and child with easy-to-learn massage techniques that soothe and promote well-being.

¨      Classroom Language Skills for Children with d/s by Libby Kumin  

This book emphasises the crucial role teachers and speech-language pathologists play. It explains how to make adaptations to curriculum, verbal instruction, classroom routines, and written assignments. The book discusses ways to enhance social communication between children with Down syndrome and other students during class, lunch, and recess. Also covered is the use of augmentative communication methods for children with Down syndrome who are non-verbal or rarely use speech. As an added bonus, there are numerous forms and checklists for parents such as an IEP planner, home-school communication tips, samples of visual prompts, graphic organisers, and worksheet adaptations. Overall, this guide offers parents an in-depth overview of their child’s language skills in school, while providing teachers and SLPs with useful ideas and adaptations that will help them meet the communication needs of their students with Down syndrome.

¨      Comic Strip Conversations by Carol Gray

Carol Gray combines stick-figures with “conversation symbols” to illustrate what people say and think during conversations. Showing what people are thinking reinforces that others have independent thoughts – a concept spectrum children don’t intuitively understand. Children can also recognize that, although people say one thing, they may think something quite different – another concept foreign to “concrete-thinking” children. Children can draw their own “comic strips” to show what they are thinking and feeling about events or people. Different colors can represent different states of mind. These deceptively simple comic strips can reveal as well as convey quite a lot of substantive information.

¨      Communication Handouts

Duo-tang of handouts about communication.  Includes some signs.

¨      Communication and Sign Language Handouts

Duo-tang of handouts explaining Sign Language.  Includes some songs and words in sign along with pictures.

¨      Community Connections –Directory of Services for Abbotsford, Mission, and the Fraser Valley Compiled bySchool District #34

Directory of services for Abbotsford, Mission, and the FraserValley.  Updated March, 2012

¨      Down syndrome Nutrition Handbook by Joan Guthrie Medlen, RD, LD

This one-of-a-kind book is the first to provide information, strategies, and tools to promote healthy living for people with Down syndrome, their families, and those who support them. Using her knowledge and expertise as a registered dietitian and experiences as a mother of a son with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and celiac disease, Joan Guthrie Medlen has blended intricate science with practical use to create a book that is indispensable. Medlen encourages parents and professionals to start teaching healthy habits early, yet stresses it is never too late to make changes. The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook describes the connection between healthy lifestyles and nutrition for people with Down syndrome and hands-on strategies for nutrition education. Chapters cover: . Introducing food textures and new foods. . Creating successful mealtimes. . Strategies for weight management. . Ideas for fitness and exercise. . Cooking and menu planning. . Activities for nutrition education that with accommodations for all students. Using visual cues and tools to teach and create healthy, independent lifestyles. The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook is the perfect tool for parents, teachers, and professionals to create general nutrition education and wellness activities for anyone. The nutrition concepts described and offered in activities meet or exceed learning standards for nutrition in most states for general education.

–      Down syndrome Parenting 101 – Must-have advice for making your life easier by Natalie Hale

Down syndrome Parenting 101 is required reading for parents, grandparents, or anyone who has a relationship with a person with Down syndrome.  Natalie Hale offers advice on everything from celebrating a child’s unique personality and seeing him for who he is to insisting he finish his chores and ensuring he has the space to be his own person as an adult.  She leads readers through every stage of growing up, highlighting the experiences and people they will encounter along the way.  She also lends tremendous support to parents, with frequent reminders to follow their intuition, embrace their sense of humour, and remember that even kids with Down syndrome need discipline from time to time.

¨      Down syndrome Transition Handbook – charting your child’s course to adulthood by Jo Ann simons, M.S.W.

This book helps parents with the enormous and often overwhelming task of preparing a child with Down syndrome or other intellectual disability for adulthood.  It is full of practical tips and step-by-step instructions for envisioning their child’s future, developing a transition plan, and seeing it through.

¨      Early Communication Skills for Children with d/s by Libby Kumin  

Children with Down syndrome have a wide range of speech and language abilities, and most need the help of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) beginning at birth to maximise communication development. Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome explains the role of a SLP, the stages of communication development, and how certain characteristics of Down syndrome, such as low muscle tone, hearing loss, and cognitive delays, can slow progression of those skills. Delays can lead to frustration and other problems for children who do not have intelligible speech until age 2 or later.

¨      Explaining Down syndrome by Angela Royston

The Explaining series looks at a range of conditions, illnesses and disabilities that affect children and adults all over the world.  The books explain why they occur, how they are diagnosed, how they affect people and how they can be treated.  Case studies illustrate how it feels to have an illness or disability, and how children and adults manage their conditions and live full and happy lives.

¨      Fine Motor Skills for Children with d/s by Maryanne Bruni  

Written by an occupational therapist who is also a parent of a child with Down syndrome. This book provides a description of fine motor skills development and offers dozens of activities to help children learn them.

¨      Gross Motor Skills in Children with d/s by Patricia Winders

Children with Down syndrome master gross motor skills — everything from rolling over to running but need additional help and encouragement to maximise development. In this book the author, a physical therapist, shares her experience gained from sixteen years specialising in the motor development of children with Down Syndrome. This book provides parents and professionals with essential information about motor development including the impact of temperament and the effect of physical and medical conditions associated with Down syndrome.

 

¨      Guide to Communication Milestones – LinguiSystems by J.Lanza & L. Flahive

¨      Guide to good Health for Teens & Adults with Down Syndrome by B. Chicoine, & D. McGuire

Drs. Chicoine and McGuire provide invaluable insight into what health problems are more common in their patients, and how medical issues can present differently in people with Down syndrome. In a clear, empathetic style, they discuss how to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent problems, and how to recognize health problems early on to ensure appropriate care and the best outcome. THE GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH is a resource families and caregivers can refer to over and over again, whether it s to find strategies to get a teen or adult to cooperate with treatment, or to consider if a symptom is being misdiagnosed or misunderstood.

 

¨      Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities by Richard Nelson Bolles and Dale Susan Brown

Richard Bolles’ creative approach to job-hunting is brought to bear on the specific challenges faced by job-hunters with disabilities.  In this book, Bolles and Dale Susan Brown guide readers through the often frustrating, but ultimately rewarding process of securing independence in their lives and personal satisfaction in their careers.

¨      Infant Massage Handouts

Duo-tang of handouts explaining the benefits and procedure of massage for children with Special Needs.

¨     On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo, M.A. & Robert Bucknam, M.D.

Giving your infant the gift of nighttime sleep.

¨      Right To Know program by the Down syndrome South Australia Society

This program addresses the specific learning styles of individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disability, and provides a comprehensive resource kit for personnel to implement appropriate programs about friendships, sexuality and personal safety.

¨      Safe and Secure: Six Steps to Creating a Good Life for People with Disabilities (RDSP Edition) by Al Etmanski

¨      Self Employment Explorer & DVD by Community Futures

Exploring self employment as a career option for youth with disabilities

¨      Sign Language Handouts

Duo-tang with handouts of signs with pictures.

¨      Signed English-A Basic Guide by H. Bornstein & K. Saulnier

A quick-reference dictionary to sign language.

 

¨      Signing Naturally Student Wkbk Lv.1 by C. Smith, E. Lentz, K. Mikos

The student workbook level 1, and excellent reference and resource book, has been expanded to include over 1,000 signs ad 100 useful phrases, many accompanied by corresponding pictures to help you remember the meaning of the signs.

¨      Social Skills Lessons – Primary – Getting Along by P. Reese & N. Challenner

One-page instructional and behavioural lessons with each sentence supported by one or more pictures. For children ages 3 through 8.

¨      Social Skills Lessons – Primary – School by P. Reese & N. Challenner

One-page instructional and behavioural lessons with each sentence supported by one or more pictures. For children ages 3 through 8.

¨      Social Skills Lessons – Intermediate – Controlling Behaviour by P. Reese & N. Challenner

One-page instructional and behavioural lessons with each sentence supported by one or more pictures. For children ages 8 through 12.

¨      Social Skills Lessons – Intermediate – Middle School by P. Reese & N. Challenner

One-page instructional and behavioural lessons with each sentence supported by one or more pictures. For children ages 8 through 12.

¨      Social Skills Lessons – Adolescent – Health & Hygiene by P. Reese & N. Challenner

One-page instructional and behavioural lessons with each sentence supported by one or more pictures. For children ages 12 through 18.

¨      Social Skills Lessons – Adolescent – Interacting by P. Reese & N. Challenner

One-page instructional and behavioural lessons with each sentence supported by one or more pictures. For children ages 12 through 18.

¨      Special Olympics Young Athletes Activity guide 

An activity guide for the Active Start program.  Outlines activities to help in the physical development of children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 2-6.

¨      Taking Care of Myself: A Hygiene, Puberty and Personal Curriculum for Young People with Autism by Mary Wrobel

Puberty can be especially tough when young people have autism or other special needs. Through simple stories similar to Carol Gray’s Social Stories, author Mary Wrobel teaches caregivers exactly what to say and not say, and shows how you can create helpful stories of your own. Mary addresses hygiene, modesty, body growth and development, menstruation, touching, personal safety, and more. Young students can benefit from self-care skills such as using the toilet, brushing teeth, and washing hands. Parents and teachers should begin teaching these necessary skills as early as possible, even from ages 3-5. The ultimate goal is to maximize the child’s potential for independence and lifelong social success.

¨      Taking Down syndrome to School by Jenna Glatzer

These beautifully illustrated and fun-to-read storybooks simplify and normalize complicated childhood conditions, like down syndrome. When read aloud, other children can identify why a peer may be treated differently and begin to empathize with them. In addition, children whose conditions set them apart as being different begin to feel accepted and safe. Each book includes a Kids’ Quiz to reinforce new information and Ten Tips for Teachers to provide additional facts and ideas for teacher use. In Taking Down Syndrome to School, Nick’s story explains what Down Syndrome is and how it affects children born with it.

¨      Teaching Children with Down syndrome Produced by Down syndrome Association National Capital Region

A duo-tang resource guide for educators in Elementary schools explaining Down syndrome and offering suggestions for use in the school environment.

¨      Teaching Children with Down Syndrome About Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality by Terri Couwenhoven  

Written by a certified sexual educator, who is also a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, this book is easy-to-read. Each chapter highlights key points (from learning about the body, to friendship, to dating), activities and provides pictures.

¨      Teaching Children with Down Syndrome About Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality by Terri Couwenhoven

Written by a certified sexual educator, who is also a parent of a child with Down syndrome, this book is easy-to-read. Each chapter highlights key points (from learning about the body, to friendship, to dating), activities and provides pictures.

¨      Teaching Math to People with Down syndrome by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.

TEACHING MATH TO PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME is the book that everyone has been waiting for! Now parents and educators can use this guide to teach meaningful math to students–with and without learning problems–who struggle with understanding computation, number concepts, and when and how to use these skills.

The author, an experienced educator, was inspired to write TEACHING MATH to meet the needs of hands-on learners after observing the difficulty her adult son with Down syndrome and his peers had in applying math skills to everyday life.

For years, the math program explained in TEACHING MATH has been successfully used with preschoolers, children, and adults with Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other cognitive disabilities. Its success lies in capitalizing on the visual learning strengths of these concrete learners and using manipulatives, games, and activities to teach and maintain motivation. A key feature of this method is the early introduction of the calculator, which allows students to progress in their understanding of math without having to memorize math facts. This book can be used to help students learn the critical math survival skills needed for living independently or help students in their math curricula at school.

¨      Teaching Reading to Children with d/s by Patricia Oelwein

Teach your child to read using the author’s nationally recognized, proven method. From introducing the alphabet to writing and spelling, the lessons are easy to follow. The many pictures and flash cards included appeal to visual learners and are easy to photocopy!

¨      The Hidden Curriculum: Practical Solutions for Understanding Unstated Rules in Social Situations by Brenda Smith Myles

This work gives good advice on how to make and maintain eye contact; how to position oneself when talking to

and listening to another; how to appear natural in practicing these skills. This book also gives a good explanation of how to “read” people socially and how to learn to anticipate possible seeming changes in the Tacit Social Codes & Rules. People with neurotypical (NT) brains already know these Rules and NT readers also can benefit from this book by seeing what people on the a/A spectrum contend with. Rather, people on the a/A spectrum learn these behaviors cognitively as this is not intuitive knowledge among the a/A population. Once the Rules are learned, the next step is understanding when and how and to apply them.

¨      The New Social Story Book: Illustrated Edition: Teaching Social Skills to Children and Adults with Autism, Asperger’s, Syndrome, and Other Autism Spectrum Disorders by Carol Gray

¨      What’s Happening To Me (Girls) by Susan Meredith

Growing up is a whole lot easier if you have some idea what to expect.  This book describes exactly what will happen to our body I a straightforward, easy-to-understand way, and it explains some of your feelings too – all you need to know for this important time in your life.

¨      What’s Happening To Me (Boys) by Alex Frith

Growing up is a whole lot easier if you have some idea what to expect.  This book describes exactly what will happen to our body I a straightforward, easy-to-understand way, and it explains some of your feelings too – all you need to know for this important time in your life.

¨      Win-Win Advice for the Inclusive Classroom by Barbara Tien & Claire Clelland

From the hearts of two dedicated professionals, who walk the talk and embrace inclusion, comes an inspiring handbook for parents and educators brimming with incisive opinions, inspiring stories, and successful strategies for meaningful inclusion.