Primary Presentation on Down Syndrome

Presented to Stacey’s Grade 4 class
School Year 2001-2002

I’m here today to talk to you about Down syndrome. Now most of you already know that Stacey has Down syndrome.  Put your hand up if you already knew this.  So you know that some things are harder for her to do or take longer to learn.  But, you also know that she works really hard, and eventually does or will do most of the same things that you do.

Can anyone tell me what it means to have Down syndrome?
________

I want to share some information about Down syndrome with you by asking you some true and false questions.
 
True or False Questions
 
1. Down syndrome is a disease.  (False)  

Down syndrome is just what it says – a syndrome. It does not make a person ill or sick, however, people with Down syndrome can get the same illnesses as anyone else (catch the cold or a flu, chicken pox).

2. You can catch Down syndrome. (False)

The only way to get Down syndrome is to be born with it – if you aren’t born with it, you can’t get it.  It also means that someone who is born with Down syndrome will always have it.  It doesn’t go away and you can’t outgrow it.

3. Language is often slow to develop in people with Down syndrome.  (True)

To learn to talk and to understand what others are saying is a very complicated skill. We don’t realize how hard it is because it came pretty easy for you and me. But because its such a complicated skill, learning to talk and understanding others is one of the most difficult tasks for many children and adults with Down syndrome to learn to use.

4. The abilities of all people with Down syndrome is the same.  (False)

Just as there is a wide range of ability in the general population, there is a wide range of ability among people with Down syndrome.  Some people with Down syndrome can learn to do most of the things other people can do. Others with Down syndrome might need a lot of support throughout their lives.

5.   People with Down syndrome can be talented.  (True)  

People with Down syndrome can indeed be talented, just as all of us can be.  Andrea Freedman is an actress in California who has Down syndrome. Karen Gaffney just finished swimming the English Channel this summer in a race and she has Down syndrome.  Jane Cameron was an artist who created beautiful tapestries (pictures) – and she had Down syndrome.  And this spring I heard a young man play the piano, clarinet and the violin better than I could ever imagine trying to do. And these are just a few examples.

6.   People with Down syndrome have the same feelings that other people do.  (True)

I’m sure you all have times when you’re happy or sad, angry or frustrated or even lonely.

People with Down syndrome may have more difficulty expressing how they feel, but they feel all the same emotions that you do.  Acceptance by others can lead to happiness and joy; comments and stares by others can lead to feelings of hurt and depression.

7.   People with Down syndrome would rather be alone than with a group of their peers.   (False)

  We all like to be alone sometimes, but no one likes to spend a lot of time alone.  We all need our friends.  Friends help make us feel good about ourselves. They listen to our problems. They laugh and cry with us.  People with Down syndrome are no different. They enjoy being with  their friends.

8.   People with Down syndrome cannot learn to read or write.  (False)  

Years ago, it was thought that people with Down syndrome couldn’t learn to read or write.  But this was because they weren’t taught how to. Today, things are different.  Many children with Down syndrome are now learning to read and write. The level of reading and writing achieved will vary for each person, just as it does among you and your friends.

9.   Down syndrome is caused by something the mother did during pregnancy. (False)

No one knows how Down syndrome is caused.  But we do know that it is no ones fault, not the mother or the father.  Nothing the parents did or didn’t do, caused the baby to be born with Down syndrome.
____________

So, now that you know so much more about Down syndrome, I want to show you what it’s like to have Down syndrome. I know some of you have seen this before, but I’m going to do this again anyway.

 

·        Born with an extra chromosome

·        (show pictures)

·        Everyone has 23 pairs of chromosomes in every cell in their body – 1/2 from mom & 1/2 from dad

·        Someone with Down syndrome is born with an extra chromosome – so they have ½ from mom, 1/2 from dad & one extra one (which can come from either mom or dad). When the cells divided, some of the cells stuck together causing the cells to split differently than they were supposed to.
We all work best with 23 pairs of chromosome in each cell of our body.

I’ll show you – I need 2 volunteers. (tie legs together for 3 legged race)  They now represent a chromosome – ½ from mom, ½ from dad.  Have them walk/run together.

Now add 1 more volunteer (tie legs together for 4 legged race). This represents the extra chromosome.   Have all 3 walk/run, get the other kids to help them.

·        See how quickly the 2 children learned to walk/run together

·        Did it take the 3 children longer?  Did they eventually walk/run together? Was walking easier than running? Why? – this was easier when it was slower. Were you able to help them?  How? (encouragement etc.)

This is sort of how Down syndrome works. The extra chromosome is like the extra person in the 3-legged race.  It can make things harder to learn for someone with Down syndrome.  Sometimes things get all jumbled up, just like their legs when they tried to walk.

It can take more time to learn to talk, to learn simple math, do up zippers on a jacket or tie shoelaces.  But it doesn’t mean that they can’t. It just means that it takes more time, and sometimes extra help.
_____

So, now that you know about Down syndrome, how does this specifically affect Stacey?

Remember, Stacey’s working with an extra chromosome all the time.  Just like those three children that were tied together and tried to walk & run. It’s tough, sometimes really frustrating but not impossible.

One thing that Stacey has to work extra hard on is talking.  In the true & false questions, you learned that talking is a really complicated thing to learn.  And yet, you learned to talk without even thinking about it – just by listening to others around you. Stacey has to study it, practice it over & over. Imagine how frustrated you would get if you couldn’t communicate with your friends.  If you knew what you wanted to say, but just couldn’t get the words out properly.    The extra chromosome makes it tough for her to understand sometimes – it’s a bit easier for her if she can see what you are trying to tell her.  So, if possible, show her what you are talking about if she doesn’t understand.   Or if you don’t understand her, ask her to show you – she won’t mind.   Stacey’s speech is getting better – and every time you communicate together, you are helping her improve her talking.

I also want to explain about Stacey’s tongue.  You probably noticed that it’s usually showing, just a bit. Stacey has a smaller mouth cavity than you do – the cavity is the space inside the mouth – so the tongue has a tougher time staying inside. If we remind her, then she pulls it in but as soon as she forgets about it, it usually comes out a bit again. This is just a part of who she is. It’s like putting your size 5 foot into a size 4 shoe and expecting it to stay there all day.  Some people might say her tongue is out because she has a big tongue.  But now you know, it because she has a smaller mouth cavity.  As she gets older and her facial features grow – just like all of yours will – then the mouth cavity might grow to a better size to accommodate her tongue.

Stacey didn’t ask to be born with Down syndrome. She’s only now starting to learn what that means – just like I’m teaching you about what it means. But even though she has Down syndrome, she wants the same things that you want:

·        Friends to play with

·        To be included in conversations

·        To be invited to birthday parties

·        To play with friends at recess

·        To go to sleepovers

She also feels the same things that you feel:

·        She laughs when you do something funny

·        She praises you when you do good work

·        She rushes to your side to make you feel better if you’re sad or hurt

·        She’s sad if someone teases her or won’t let her play with them

Stacey has many friends here at school.  I’ve asked a few of them to say what they like about Stacey and why they have enjoyed being her friend.

·        Lisa

·        Brendan

·        Amal

·        Jake

I have one last true or false question to ask you – and for this one your don’t have to put your hand up.

10. When I see a person with Down syndrome, I don't know how to react.

If you thought “true,” then you are not alone. It is hard to know how to approach someone who looks or acts differently from what you think is “normal.” The key is: just try.  Say hello, talk about yourself, about what you like to do.  Speak just a little more slowly, and wait a little longer for a response. Soon you might find yourself with a new friend.

I would like to finish by reading a poem to you called Just Like Me.
 

Regular Chromosome

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Extra Chromosome
Someone with Down Syndrome

°° °° °° °°
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°°°  °°  °°

The Early Years Down Syndrome Awareness Kit (for Grades 2 and 3)

Provided by: The Manitoba Down Syndrome Society
1999/2000

This kit contains information that can be used by parents and professionals who wish to increase the awareness level of students in the early years level. Users are encouraged to choose the parts of the presentation guide that best suit their purposes.

Primary Presentation on Down Syndrome
(using resource video, That’s Not My Name by Katie & Orbie – 10 min.)

Presented to a Grade 2 & 3 class
School Year 1999/2000

Start by showing the video & then discussing it with the class. The discussion that follows this page, deals directly with the child in the class who has Down Syndrome. The names in this presentation are fictional. Add or delete specific personal items pertaining to your child as they apply to the presentation.

Questions about the video:

Why did the boys in the park tease Micah?

• They didn’t know him – they should try to get to know him better
• He had Down syndrome (this information may be offered by a student)
• How was Micah different from the other children? (slower)?
• How is Micah the same? (enjoys friends, playing in the park, on the structure/swing).

There were two boys that came back later and played with Micah & his friends. At the end of the day, did they see Micah as different? Why? (they had gotten to know him)

In the video, it said that Micah was born with Down syndrome.
Does anyone here know what this means?

• Born with an extra chromosome
• Everyone has 23 pairs of chromosomes in every cell in their body
  – 1/2 from mom & 1/2 from dad
• Someone with Down syndrome is born with an extra chromosome – so they have ½ from mom, 1/2 from dad & one extra one. When the cells divided, some of the cells stuck together causing the cells to split differently than they were supposed to.
• It is something they are born with (it occurred the moment that mom & dad decided to have a baby).
• It is not like a cold – no one can catch it
• Nothing the mother did or didn’t do, could have stopped it from happening
• It just happened
• We all work best with 23 pairs of chromosome in each cell of our body.
   

I’ll show you – I need 2 volunteers. (tie legs together for 3 legged race) They now represent a chromosome – ½ from mom, ½ from dad. Have them walk/run together.

Now add 1 more volunteer (tie legs together for 4 legged race) This represents the extra chromosome. Have all 3 walk/run, get the other kids to help them.

See how quickly the 2 children learned to walk / run together

• Did it take the 3 children longer? Did they eventually walk/run together? Was walking easier than running? Why? – this was easier when it was slower. Were you able to help them? How? (encouragement etc.)
   
• This is sort of how Down syndrome works. The extra chromosome is like the extra person in the 3-legged race. It can make things harder to learn for someone with Down syndrome.
   
• It can take more time to learn to talk, add numbers together, do up zippers on a jacket or tie shoelaces. But it doesn’t mean that they can’t. It just means that it takes more time, and sometimes extra help.

Does anyone here know someone who has Down syndrome?
What does Andy have difficulty with? How is he different from you?

• tongue out (sometimes - explain why – smaller mouth, lower mucle tone), speech, needs extra helper in school to keep him focused
• Shorter attention span
• Difficulty with balance: jumping, slower on stairs, riding bike

How is Andy the same? What does he like that you like?

• Hair on head, two eyes, laughs, cries when sad, etc.
• Structure day, gym / music / library classes, friends, birthday parties, swimming
• Loves animals – especially dogs
• He is sad if you are sad
• Loves to play on the computer
• Likes to play Nintendo or Sega video games
• Enjoys helping others
• Loves to go camping in the summer

Is everyone here the same? Well, let’s see.
Who is 7 years old? – You are the same age. But some of your are 8, right? So you are not all the same age, but you’re in the same class.

Who here wears glasses? - That makes you the same. But some of you don’t wear glasses – that makes your group the same. The one group is different from the other group. But whether we do or don’t wear glasses, we still all have eyes.

Sometimes, people who are viewed as different are teased or left out and not included. It’s important to know that we are all different from each other in many ways but it is these differences that make each of us special. It would be pretty boring if we were all exactly the same. We all want to be accepted for who we are.

Just to show you what I mean, I’m going to give everyone with blonde hair a chocolate bar. But, because the rest of you are not blonde and have different colour hair, you don’t get any.
Is this fair? How does this make you feel. Do you feel left out? Did you have any say in what colour your hair is? Does it matter what colour your hair is? (If you don’t want to give a treat, find another way to illustrate this point).

I did this to show you that just because someone is different than you, it doesn’t mean they should be treated any different. Treat others how you want to be treated.
Remember how it felt when you didn’t get a chocolate bar just because of your hair colour.
Everyone wants to have friends, to be included in activities and have fun at school – even someone with Down syndrome.

Even though Andy has Down syndrome he does a lot of things that you probably do:

• takes swimming lessons
• he played T-ball for the last 2 years
• loves playing Nintendo with his brother
• enjoys playing games on the computer
• great with operating electronics, TV, remotes, stereo, VCR, computer
• great at helping at home, washing dishes, vacuums, washes cars
• sorts recycling & takes out the garbage
• playing in the neighbourhood with friends
• riding his bike

So we know that in many ways, Andy is the same as you and I, but also different in his own ways – just like we are all different from each other. How can you help him to learn better/easier/faster?

We all learn from each other, and Andy enjoys learning from you – by being included in activities, playing at recess, by being together at lunch, etc. He enjoys being your partner for various activities – like games in the gym, reading assignments or just walking beside you to the next class.

When he is talking to you, it takes extra time to listen to what he wants to say. If you can’t understand him, ask him to repeat what he said. He is very patient in making himself understood & he will show you with gestures if necessary.

Initiate conversation with him. This helps him practice building sentences and getting his thoughts across to you. The more he does this, the easier it will get for him.

Sometimes, you can give him too much help. Ask for class suggestions of this.

• Talking for him does not help him learn to talk
• Zipper on jacket, shoelaces on shoes, etc.

He is really smart – if he can get you to do something for him that he can really do himself, why not. It’s a lot easier for him. (If I could get you to come to my house and wash the kitchen dishes – I think that would be great, too)!

I came today to tell you about Andy and about Down syndrome for several reasons.

I thought that you might have questions about Down syndrome and how that affects Andy. Remember that he has an extra chromosome in every cell of his body. He can do the same things that you do, but it may take him longer and sometimes its easier if he does it slower (just like to was easier to walk than it was to run when three of you had your legs tied together).

I also came to teach you about Down syndrome so that you can help teach others. If someone doesn’t know what Down syndrome is, they may not understand Andy and they might make fun of him because he’s different. But today we learned that we are all different from each other and that it is our differences that make each of us special. What could you do to teach others about Down syndrome? What would you tell them? (guardian against ignorance)

Andy knows that he has Down syndrome (adjust if the child doesn’t know he has DS) but doesn’t fully understand what it is. He knows that things are harder for him to learn and it may take longer for him to do the same things that come so easily for you. He may sometimes show his frustration during class by becoming upset or not following instructions. He will need your patience and understanding as he learns to accept that he has Down syndrome.

What he needs the most from you is to know that you accept him for who he is and that you are his friend.

Any questions???

Questions that were asked during a Grade 2 presentation – October 1999

Q.How did you know that he had Down syndrome?
A. Physical signs after he was born, blood test to confirm DS

Q. Will that chromosome ever go away?
A. No

Q. Was there another person to give the third chromosome – ½ mom, ½ dad, extra ___?
A. The extra chromosome comes from a wrong cell division

Q. Will he get better?
A. He is not sick, but the DS will never go away

Q. Did you have Down syndrome when you were born?
A. No, and I will never have it

Q. Does his sister or brother have Down syndrome?
A. No.

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