The Annie Forts Up Syndrome Fund has a beautiful website whose focus is to assist and encourage young people with Down Syndrome. Annie forts is a motivational speaker and has Down Syndrome. she travels across America, actively encouraging other Down Syndrome people and providing understanding to their families.
From this website, I was able to connect more emotionally with the project and maintain a positive approach to how I want my organization to be and express that to the community
National Nine News has released an article titled ‘Boy taunted after Seven’s Down syndrome gaff‘ that addresses Channel 7’s All Saints providing false informaiton in regards to Down Syndrome and Down Syndrome Australia’s response.
I have found a beautiful Youtube clip that shows that people with Down Syndrome have the same dreams as every one else. It is titled ‘Dreams‘
As a part of the Research Proposal, I have found an example of a Research Ethics Sample Consent Form on the Victorian Department of Justice website.
This can be used as a guide for creating my own consent for when I am interviewing medical practitioners, parents and siblings.
After speaking with Kimberley on tuesday, she gave me some suggestions for possible research. Small Metal Objects is Back to Back Theatre group, which has an ensemble of six members, considered to have intellectual disability.
Back to Back Threatre.com states that “the company explores how respect is withheld from outsiders – the disabled or unemployed – who society deems ‘unproductive'” and attempts to break this line of thinking.
I have also attached a Small Metal Objects Preview video for future reference.
Although YouTube is considered a ‘video forum’, by simply typing in ‘Down Syndrome‘, the search engine generated numerous videos that range from sentimental clips from parents about their Down Syndrome child, to footage of televised documentaries, to siblings and friends sharing footage that captures the ups and downs of the disorder.
I have included a few clips that provide insight into the minds of parents and friends, as well as professionals opinions. It is clips like these that helped me get in the mindset of just how big an impact this disorder has on the people involved and really establishes the fact that Down Syndrome people want to be independent and live life to the full.
Kids with Down Syndrome: Staying Healthy and Making Friends
Support Down Syndrome Awareness
Up Syndrome- Part 1 and Part 2
Grace: A Story of a Family and Down Syndrome
A blog has been established on Yahoo named ‘Families with Down Syndrome Kids‘ that allows parents to ask questions in relation to their child as well as get support from other parents that are struggling with the same ordeals. This is important to my research as a similar blog could be used by the siblings of Down Syndrome in order to deal with their situations with other people their age who are going through the same thing.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics have collected an array of information based on the percentage of the population with disabilities and the various support and resources that are involved. Year Book Australia 2007 and Causes of Death Australia 2006 look at the health issues of disabled persons at various ages.
Monash University, in conjunction with the Victorian State Government and the university of melbourne have established ‘The Centre for Developmental Disability Health, which is an academic unit which aims to improve the health for people with developmental disabilities through education and research activities.
Monash University have devised a Down Syndrome Fact Sheet that list information on the disorder and the various health issues that face different age groups.
World Down Syndrome Day has an official website that is used to update those interested in its events as well as providing links to various organizations that support families of Down Syndrome persons.
Down Syndrome Research 