The Down Syndrome Centre Limited
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to create centres of excellence dedicated to providing therapy services and support to children, families, and carers of people with Down syndrome, to ensure that each child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. The Down Syndrome Centre opened in 2014 with the aim of addressing the increased cuts and lack of accessibility to therapy services for children with Down syndrome in Ireland. Children with Down syndrome have a valuable role to play in society and have so much to offer provided they are given the right opportunities and support to thrive. They can show us the importance of patience, understanding, acceptance and diversity and they are capable of so much more than people might imagine. The ethos of the centre focuses around positivity and providing a warm, family friendly and welcoming space whre we concentrate on the abilities of a child and where each and every milestone is celebrated. We create a 'home from home' environment where we focus on the entire family unit. The most important thing to note is that Down syndrome is just a part of someone. It does not define them. People with Down syndrome are people first and foremost and deserve the same respect and treatment that you would give any other person. Down syndrome is not a sickness or a disease, it is a genetic disorder or chromosomal anomaly that occurs at the time of conception. Every person with Down syndrome is unique with their own talents, abilities, thoughts and interests and like everybody else, they have their own strengths and weaknesses and, hopes and dreams.
About This Cause
The Down Syndrome Centres have been established to build a brighter future for children with Down syndrome by providing vital early intervention clinical therapy and essential educational, independence and social building blocks - which will help children with Down syndrome to develop skills that will enable them to participate fully and feel included in society. The services which we provide are key to us achieving these goals. The centre provides a wide range of services and supports to children with Down syndrome from birth to teenage years and to families and carers. Baby Massage Baby Massage is a very special art of using nurturing touch through a specifically designed series of strokes which combine Indian and Swedish massage, reflexology and some gentle yoga stretches. During the class these strokes are demonstrated on a doll, while parents massage their babies. Triona’s Tots Triona’s Tots was formed by Triona Cussen, a mother of a child with Down syndrome who noticed there was a gap in services for a specialised Parents & Tots group. She recognised the value and importance of regular and routine classes to encourage children with Down syndrome to make friends while learning communication skills in a fun and nurturing environment. SKIP – Special Kids Intervention Programme SKIP is a specially designed, early development programme for children with Down syndrome aged between 18 months and 5 years. SKIP prepares a child with Down syndrome for mainstream Montessori and school at the end of the programme by developing their social and independence skills. Occupational Therapy Many children with Down syndrome face challenges with fine motor skills, gross motor skills and sensory issues which can affect their ability to engage in daily activities. At the Down Syndrome Centre OT sessions are fun, creative and stimulating for a child’s development and self-esteem and take place in a combination of settings – in our OT Gym, OT Therapy Room and Multisensory Room. Speech and Language Therapy Children with Down syndrome can experience speech and language delays, due to hearing problems, low muscle tone and learning ability. Language is vital for a child’s cognitive (thinking) and social development. Our therapists use a Total Communication approach, using visuals, Lámh signs and words. We also provide support with Feeding, Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Skills. Physiotherapy Physiotherapy provides support to children from birth to school leaving age to promote normal development of movement and functional independence. Early paediatric physiotherapy for children with Down syndrome can help with the acquisition of motor skills and develop strength to help maximise their motor function. As our children are getting older each year we are very conscious in providing the relevant services to keep up with their development. This year saw the introduction of various group sessions for the pre-teen age group and the addition of a second Speech and Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist to the Centre. We now have the capacity to increase the age category of our service users to 15+and to deliver skilled group sessions and classes targeting specific areas of development in this older age group. There is a lack of resources and opportunities for children when they reach 18 which is a constant worry for parents of children with Down Syndrome and on that basis we have started addressing what we can do to alleviate those concerns. In an exciting new venture we now have a new project manager in place and are researching a variety of different options for our young adults, looking to create a space that will provide further education, in-house training and transitions into paid employment. The model has been so successful that three new centres have opened under The Down Syndrome Centre umbrella since 2017 – The Down Syndrome Centre, Cork, The Down Syndrome Centre, Midlands and The Down Syndrome Centre North East. All of the funding for the Down Syndrome Centre comes through fundraising efforts. At present we receive no government funding so our fundraising efforts are crucial to continue to keep our doors open and to fund our services for the children and families who use our services