Down's syndrome

help and info

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organisations

Antenatal Results and Choices
73 Charlotte Street
London W1T 4PN
Helpline: 020 7631 0285 (Mon-Fri 10am-5.30pm)
Tel: 020 7631 0280 (admin)
E-mail: info@arc-uk.org
Website: www.arc-uk.org
Provides support and information to parents throughout the antenatal testing process. Their aim is to help parents arrive at the most appropriate decision for them in the context of their family life.

The Birth Defects Foundation (BDF)
BDF Centre
Hemlock Business Park
Hemlock Way
Cannock WS11 7GF
Tel: 01543 468888
Helpline: 08700 70 70 20 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm)
E-mail: help@birthdefects.co.uk
Website: www.bdfcharity.co.uk
BDF Newlife is the UK's leading child health and research charity and helps the 1 in 16 babies with an inborn condition. The charity provides support, information and grants to families with a child with an inborn condition. The organisation also carries out research into conditions developed in utero and provides news about the latest developments affecting the children. The website itself is a huge source of information, good advice and training for families, couples who are trying for a baby and medical practitioners.

Contact a Family
209-211 City Road
London EC1V 1JN
Helpline: 0808 808 3555 (free Mon-Fri 10am-4pm)
Textphone: 0808 808 3556
Tel: 020 7608 8700
E-mail: info@cafamily.org.uk
Website: www.cafamily.org.uk
Organisation that provides information and support to anyone who cares for a child with a disability, special need or rare syndrome. Contact A Family is also a community of families in the same or a similar situation who provide a network of advice and support based on their experiences.

Down's Syndrome Association
Langdon Down Centre
2a Langdon Park
Teddington TW11 9PS
Tel: 0845 230 0372
Fax: 0845 230 0373
E-mail: info@downs-syndrome.org.uk
Website: www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
The Down's Syndrome Association began as a parent support group in Teddington and become a national charity dedicated to supporting people with Down's syndrome – about 1 in 1,000 people – their families and carers as well as providing information for those with a professional interest.

Down's Syndrome Scotland
158/160 Balgreen Road
Edinburgh EH11 3AU
Tel: 0131 313 4225
E-mail: info@dsscotland.org.uk
Website: www.dsscotland.org.uk
A membership-based organisation which works to improve the quality of life for everyone with Down's syndrome in Scotland. It includes a guide to state benefits, a list of helpful literature and education for people with Down's syndrome.

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
83 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0HW
Tel:020 7802 03000
E-mail: fpld@fpld.org.uk
Website: www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
Part of the Mental Health Foundation, The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities aims to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities. The website is the largest dealing with learning disability issues in the UK. It is a forum for issues that affect the lives of people with learning disabilities, describes the work of the foundation and acts as a gateway to some of the other resources on learning disabilities.

Mencap
123 Golden Lane
London EC1Y 0RT
Tel: 020 7454 0454
Helpline: 0808 808 1111 (free)
E-mail: information@mencap.org.uk
Website: www.mencap.org.uk
Mencap is the UK's leading charity for children and adults with a learning disability and their families and carers. It helps people to live as independently as possible, get involved in society and get into work as well as campaigning for the rights of people with a learning disability.

websites

Antenatal Screening Web Resource (AnSWeR)
www.antenataltesting.info
Website provides balanced information about disability to help you make decisions about screening tests in pregnancy.

Connects: the Mental Health and Learning Disability Portal
www.connects.org.uk
A world-wide, interactive, personalised forum for the sharing of information by people whose lives are touched by mental health problems and/or learning disabilities.

Down's Heart Group
www.dhg.org.uk
This charity offers support and information to families who have a member with Down's syndrome and congenital heart defects.

Down Syndrome Information Network
www.down-syndrome.info
Offers a range of information resources and online services to the international Down's syndrome community. It aims to provide information and services for families, carers, professionals and researchers worldwide.

Understanding Learning Disabilities
www.mind.org.uk
This online booklet, was produced by Mind and is aimed at people who have a learning disability, their families and friends. It outlines the kind of support that enables people with a learning disability to lead a full, active life, explains what kind of help is available and how to access it.

Mosaic Down Syndrome UK
www.mosaicdownsyndrome.org
The internet portal for a large community of parents of children with Mosaic Down Syndrome (MDS) – the heriditary form of the condition – that provides support to other parents and children through information, personal stories and even fun activities to do at home. The site also provides access to the MDS e-mail support group.

reading

	Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st century by William Cohen, Lynn Nadel and Myra Madnick (Editors) (John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2002) Designed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of the current issues of self-determination, education, and advocacy, as well as the most recent research developments. Get this book

	Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome by Maryanne Bruni (Woodbine House, 1998) A guide to understanding and developing fine motor skills in children with Down's syndrome. The author draws on her expertise as an occupational therapist and parent to show readers how to help children develop the hand skills required for such tasks as holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, or using a computer. Get this book

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