Educating Pupils with Down Syndrome Talk in Harrow

[ThomCat]

Anyone who has an interest and can get to Harrow -this Saturday 9.30am - 4.30pm - Harrow Teacher's Centre, Tudor Road, Harrow, Professor Sue Buckley, one of the foremost authorities on the education of pupils with Down Syndrome will in Harrow for 1 day only to share her 20 years of experience in this field.

That sounds interesting TC are you going?

mm sounds great although we have had so many weekends out lately and coming up that we are having a family weekend this weekend.

I am however off to t alk by a visual impairment advisor on visual impairment and children with Down's syndrome. Hope to learn something more.

Let me know if you go and if you do can you crib an extra set of notes etc for me

Hiya - yeah I'll make notes / grab any info I can for you and will share anything with you Edisvold, and anyone else who's interested.
I just have to find someone to have Lottie for me (everyone I'd normally ask wants to come to the talk with me!) and hope this sore throat doesn't turn into anything nasty - can hardly swallow today.
Anyway - I'll let you know what happens.
TC xx

There were a few print outs so anyone who wants stuff photocopied email me through Mumsnet with your address and I'll send you a set.

I would love a copy and will email you for it.

Can I also let you know that DSA has done a folder on a similar thing - we put off buying it as it is about £15 but I saw one recently and I believe as both a parent and an educator that it is worth every penny. In fact I am going to buy one to use with dd.

Eidsvold, I thought DSA was a Mumsnet abbreviation but I guess not How was the talk on visual impairment? I have a friend whose son (who has a rare chromosome disorder) was functionally blind at birth but now just has visual impairment that doesn't seem too severe and certainly doesn't prevent him doing anything at school or elsewhere. I think he had nothing wrong with his eyes but with the brain function, sorry if not very well expressed as its not something I understand personally but know about second hand. If any of her experience can help you I can find out more about what she did, I know she worked like a dog on his vision and mobility problems.

the talk was interesting - it was for teachers and sen co-ordinators - I was the only parent there - although I am also a teacher. It was interesting to hear the ideas about helping children with Down's syndrome see better and cope better visually.

It was a little interesting being a parent - I think the teachers - forgot about that part of my intro when they were speaking and it really got to me when a particular person kept calling them 'down's kids' I know i should have said something but felt I had been invited as a courtesy and that I did not want to offend the person who had invited me. Most of the teachers and the person giving the presentation referred to them as children with down's syndrome.

Edisvold - look forward to receiving your address and sending you photocopies. Can you tell me more about this folder, where I can find such a thing to purchase etc. Thanks a lot.

Eidsvold, I know what you mean about it being interesting attending these things sometimes when you're a parent. I went to an "autism conference" at the Tavistock once (psychotherapy centre, founded or dedicated to Freud). That was a humdinger in terms of speaking in a way that offends parents and they also managed to offend many of the professionals there too!

oh no Davros - it seems such a shame that it still happens.

The folder TC is about educating children with Down's syndrome - published by the DSA - I saw it in one of their various mailings... can't locate it just at the minute but will try and find it for you. It is about £15.00 - very very useful - full of general information about how children with DS learn and the difficulties they have to overcome and then it gives specific ideas and resources to use with them.

Thanks Edisvold - will try and find it and get one - sounds good - thanks for the tip! xx