October 2022 is Down Syndrome Awareness Month! People with Down syndrome are born with an extra 22nd chromosome in at least some cells. People with Down syndrome may need extra time to grow and learn, but did you know many people with Down syndrome can learn to read if someone teaches them?
Research also shows that teaching language skills like asking yes/no and Wh- questions and negating phrases (e.g., I do not like green eggs and ham) is an appropriate and learnable goal for individuals with Down syndrome at the 2-4 word expressive level. In addition, by focusing on the grammar, your clients’ overall speech intelligibility will improve as much as if you’re treated phonology directly!
Think learnable goals first! If you need a primer/refresher on learnability and/or learnable goals, click here.
Outside The Box 