DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL TEXAS

Upon diagnosis and referral to DSACT, parents who have a received a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for their baby are contacted by one of our trained new parent coordinators who will visit with families , provide a welcome basket full of resources and baby items, and answer questions. These new parent coordinators offer ongoing emotional support and mentoring and introduce new families to DSACT's infant social group.

Our medical outreach team meets with local hospital and clinic staff, including doctors, nurse, and social workers, to provide training and education on best practices in delivering a Down syndrome diagnosis and new research in the Down syndrome field. DSACT also develops referral networks with local medical providers to ensure that all families with a Down syndrome diagnosis have the opportunity to connect with DSACT programs and resources.

DSACT's PEAK (Parents Empowering Articulation in Kids) Speech Therapy Program is a is low-cost and open to individuals with Down syndrome in the Central Texas area who, with a family member, meet eligibility criteria. We provide group therapy to people with Down syndrome ages 4-adult, working in therapy groups of five participants.

DSACT offers professional educational opportunities including district-wide, school-wide, and team/individual teacher consultation and continuing education to ensure educators are knowledgeable and competent to use best practices for educating individuals with Down syndrome.

DSACT's Education Manager also provides twice-monthly educational sessions for parents and caregivers on a variety of topics relevant to the learning styles of individuals with disabilities.

For both professionals and family members, DSACT hosts an annual full-day seminar featuring an expert in the special education practice field.