Would like to speak to Moondog about speech therapy. Can anyone help?

[Soph73]

Didn't really know where to post this message but hopefully someone can point me in the right direction

Brief history: DH & I have 2 sons and the youngest has Down's Syndrome. He is 11 months old. We live in Gran Canaria & there are no English speaking Speech Therapists on the island. He could have speech therapy in Spanish but it would mean (so we've been told) he wouldn't be able to speak English as children with Down's cannot cope with two languages.

Can you help?

PS: I only have the use of a computer at work so if anyone does post please don't be put out if I don't reply until Monday Am on the computer till 3.30pm today.

have a look at this thread about bilingualism and kids with SN, Moondog has posted on it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=special_needs&threadid=268557-sn-ds-bilingual-family-what-to-do-with-se cond-baby#5439575

DH works in a school in a part of London where 95% of the children come from Sylheti-speaking families, so whilst parents aren't always English speakers, the kids are all bilingual. He has two children with Down's and they're both thriving--they use Makaton but, according to their SALT are also coping well in both their languages.

Arabica - thanks very much for that message, it has cheered me up.

TotalChaos - will take a look, thanks.