Down syndrome

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

Down syndrome often results in a mild to moderate intellectual disability and characteristic physical features are also identifiers.

Most adults with Down syndrome can lead healthy, active lives and many are capable of pursuing vocational goals although some people with down syndrome benefit from a structured work environment.  People with Down syndrome are more visual learners and rely more on visual information than spoken information.

Symptoms and Characteristics

Some of the symptoms and characteristics of Down syndrome include:

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

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

• blindness or vision impairment
• Deafness and hearing loss
• Alzheimer's disease

Statistics

More than 300 children are born with Down syndrome in Australia each year which is approximately 1 in 869 births (Bannerman 2003). The syndrome affects males and females alike.

Workplace adjustments and solutions

There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:

• concentrating
• dealing with stress and psychological demands
• 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

Down Syndrome NSW 2006, Down Syndrome NSW Brochure, Down Syndrome NSW, Parramatta, viewed 28 February 2007, <http://www.dsansw.org.au/downloads/DS%20NSW%20brochure%2006%20.pdf>.

Homeier, B. P. 2005, Down Syndrome, Nemours Foundation, USA, viewed 28 February 2007, <http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html>.

National Association for Down Syndrome 2006, Facts About Down Syndrome, National Association for Down Syndrome, Chicago, viewed 28 February 2007, <http://www.nads.org/pages_new/facts.html>.

Bannerman, M. 2003, Queensland researchers claim down syndrome breakthrough: media transcript, 14 October 2003, Australian Broadcasting Commission—The 7.30 report, Canberra, viewed 28 February 2007,http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s967015.htm.