Down Syndrome

Disability studies and critical trauma studies are both deeply concerned with the social construction of meaning and identity. However, these disciplines often remain mutually disengaged, inadvertently overlooking shared mechanisms of oppression that foster stigma. This article explores the novel depiction of disability and trauma in the play Amy and the Orphans by Lindsey Ferrentino. Amy, a character with Down syndrome, challenges disability stereotypes by exercising autonomy; she is not solely defined by her disability or her experiences of abuse. The theatrical narrative is one of both disability and trauma, encouraging a nuanced reflection on the origins of stigma and revealing how theatre can be used as a tool of resistance to reclaim agency through performances that challenge conventional 'disability' stereotypes.

Women with mental disabilities confront sexual assault at an alarming rate. We have argued elsewhere that this reality should be reflected in our understanding of the concepts of consent and capacity in the criminal law of sexual assault (Benedet and Grant 2007a; Benedet and Grant 2007b). In this paper, we examine recent developments in Canadian sexual assault law and consider whether they are adequate to recognize the experience of sexual assault for women with mental disabilities. In using the term mental disability, we refer to any developmental disability, psychiatric condition or other chronic, non-episodic disability that affects cognition or decision- making. Of course, the range of conditions that might fall within this category is vast and its boundaries not clearly fixed. Disability is both bio-medically and socially constructed in ways that shift with time and place. We are focusing on cases where the complainant is an adult woman with impairments in cognition, memory, an...

This study examined the impact of different styles of television portrayal of a young adult male with Down Syndrome upon the attitudes of 92 undergraduate students. Their attitudes were considered using measures of beliefs, feelings of comfort, behavioral intentions, volunteering intentions, social desirability and variables associated with previous contact (quality and quantity of contact and media exposure). Participants were assigned to experimental conditions based on television viewing preferences. They viewed one of three programs: “Man Alive: David” (documentary), “Life Goes On” (drama), or “My So Called Life” (control). A multiple stepwise regression yielded a number of predictors of attitudes including: gender, experimental condition, quality and quantity of previous contact, prior media exposure, and social desirability.

To investigate the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) in Down's syndrome (DS) children in comparison with age-matched normal children and to determine if Aa was acquired during childhood in DS individuals. 60 DS children and 60 healthy children participated in this cross-sectional study. Both groups were matched regarding gender and age and were equally selected from public schools/non-fee paying centers and private schools. Subgingival plaque sample were obtained and analyzed for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). Traditional cultivation method was used on a selective medium "modified malachite green vancomycin agar " A significantly higher percentage ofDS children had Aa in their subgingival plaque compared to their healthy counterparts (Chi square = 8.78, p = 0.003). Although Aa was acquired by children as early as 5 years of age in both groups, no association was found between the occurrence of Aa and age. Higher proportion ofDS children acquired Aa compared to their healthy controls and Aa is acquired by children as early as 5 years of age.

Caregiver interactions with young autistic children were contrasted with those involving caregivers and developmentally matched mentally retarded and normal infants. Caregivers of autistic children were similar to other caregivers in their responsiveness to child nonverbal communication bids and in their engagement in mutually sustained play. Caregivers of autistic children were similar to caregivers of mentally retarded children in their greater

Much controversy remains regarding the ability of children with autism to engage in spontaneous play. In this study children with autism, Down syndrome and typical development with verbal mental ages of approximately 2 years were assessed for play abilities at three data points. Even in this group of children with autism, who had relatively low verbal mental ages, symbolic play skills were not totally absent. However, it was possible to distinguish their pattern of play behaviors from the other two groups. Consequentially, it is argued that there are unusual features in early spontaneous play in children with autism and these atypical patterns are not restricted to their difficulties in the production of symbolic play. Such differences in early spontaneous play raise interesting questions about the etiology of autism, the direction of future research, and the theoretical models that can account for the condition.

Figure 1: JECRIPE- a game for children with special needs Abtract There are not many initiatives in the area of game development for children with special needs, specially children with Down syndrome. The major purpose of our research is to promote cognitive development of disabled children in the context of inclusive education. In order to do so, we address aspects of interaction, communication and game design in stimulating selected cognitive abilities. By using a Human-Computer Interaction method based on the Inspection of Evaluation, it was possible to study and understand user interaction with the interface and thus examine the positive aspects as well as the communicability problems found with the JECRIPE game- a game developed specially for children with Down syndrome in pre-scholar age.