Helping Children With Down Syndrome Communicate Better - 9781890627546

This guide for parents of school-age children with Down syndrome begins where Kumin's previous book Early Communication Skills leaves off. The author, a speech-language pathologist with more than thirty years of experience, and a popular presenter at parent and professional conferences, provides a comprehensive overview of speech and language issues that come into play at home, school, and in the community from kindergarten through middle-school years. She covers a wide range of abilities from kids who are scarcely verbal to those with strong communication skills and provides many case studies to illustrate typical problems and how to work through them. HELPING CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME COMMUNICATE BETTER explains the factors that comprise speech and language and points to the areas that can be more difficult for children with Down syndrome. Parents learn about the evaluation process – the requirements defined by special education law; how to advocate for testing, as well as details about the evaluation itself and what it can reveal. Chapters on treatment options detail how speech-language pathologists can help children improve specific skills, and offers dozens of home activities, games and practical ways to teach skills during daily tasks such as cooking or shopping. Treatment also focuses on fine tuning skills necessary for different settings – school, home and the community – how to improve conversational skills, and when to consider assistive technology (communication boards, sign language, and picture communication systems). This practical, user-friendly guide gives parents the knowledge and confidence they need to help their child communicate better.