Down syndrome

Down syndrome is a relatively common genetic condition identified at birth or shortly afterwards. The condition can affect all people, regardless of sex, nationality and social status. 

Down syndrome results in a variation from mild to moderate intellectual disability, along with characteristic physical features. Most adults with Down syndrome can lead healthy, active lives and many are capable of pursuing vocational goals.

Symptoms and Characteristics

Some of the typical characteristics of Down syndrome include:

• intellectual disability varying from mild to moderate
• physical features—flat facial profile, small nose, upward slant to the eyes, short legs and arms, stubby hands, short stature, a single deep crease across the centre of the palm
• sensory impairments such as mild to moderate hearing loss, long-sighted and or short-sightedness
• beyond 40 years of age, adults with Down syndrome are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease which is a common form of dementia.

For more information on these particular symptoms and characteristics, follow these links:

• Deafness and hearing loss
• Alzheimer's disease

Workplace adjustments and solutions

In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with Down syndrome to better manage their symptoms. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, and will vary depending on a person’s capabilities:

• organising the work day with set structure and routine
• if possible enable work duties to be done in one area to assist with familiarisation and learning
• use prompts to trigger memory and recall such as alarms, computer alerts, visual prompts, cue cards, task breakdown lists or use of a buddy system
• education for co-workers about the condition and any information about the person, such as how they best communicate and learn new information
• consider the use of adaptive technology to overcome any barriers associated with hearing or vision loss
• consider adaptations to workstations if a person is of short stature or has short limbs, such as lowering work benches, having height adjustable seating, step stools to reach shelving and ensuring all work items are within easy reach.

There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:

• Ability to see (or see clearly)
• Concentrating
• Learning and applying knowledge
• Organisation and planning
• Problem solving and decision making
• Reading and writing
• Speech and language

Case studies and success stories

For employers and managers:

• Commercial services—A productivity based wage for a full time employee
• Retail—Expert support makes employing people with disability easy

For job seekers and employees:

• Down syndrome—A productivity based wage and full time work for Leckie
• Down Syndrome—A retail job and more independence for Kevin

For service providers:

• Down syndrome—The right watch gives independence at work
• Down syndrome—A productivity based wage and full time work for Leckie

References

Better Health Channel 2011, Down syndrome explained, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 31 November 2011, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Down_syndrome_explained?OpenDocument.

Down Syndrome NSW 2011, Down Syndrome NSW Brochure, Down Syndrome NSW, Parramatta, viewed 31 November 2011, http://www.dsansw.org.au/downloads/General%20brochure%20updated%202011.pdf.

KidsHealth 1995-2012, Down Syndrome, Nemours Foundation, online, viewed 31 November 2011, http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html.

NADS 2010, Facts About Down Syndrome, National Association for Down Syndrome, Chicago, viewed 31 November 2011, http://www.nads.org/pages_new/facts.html. 

Would you like more information?

• Intellectual disabilities