About Down's Syndrome : Online training and events

We are very pleased to be able to offer a range of online training, adapted from our regular training offering, covering a range of subjects.

WorkFit Event

21 January 2021 | 4.00 – 5.00pm

Our WorkFit Team is hosting an online event for our employers, candidates and their families and supporters. The team will be discussing WorkFit and you will get the opportunity to hear from some of our candidates and employers.

Everyone is welcome and the event is FREE.

Sign up here.

DSA update on COVID-19 and people who have Down’s syndrome

22 January 2021 | 10.30 – 11.00am

Each week the DSA will provide an update on key issues relating to COVID-19 for people who have Down’s syndrome, their parents, carers and supporters via Zoom.

Click here to sign-up

 Education research webinar with Sarah Geiger

Monday 25 January 2021 | 4.00 to 4.40pm

What types of schools do our children and young people go to, when and why do they move?

What works to support our children and young people in school?

Sarah is talking with us about results of her research. She has been looking at our children and young people’s views of their school, their educational histories, and what is linked to successful school placement.

This webinar will report back on the results from reports by 200 parents.

Find out more and register your place on this free webinar here

Sharing Positive Support Online Session

Thursday 28 January 2021 | 10.30am – 12.00pm.

These new fortnightly sessions offer the opportunity to share your experience around behaviour in children and adults who have Down’s syndrome.

Each session will be facilitated, with a focus on collaboration and sharing rather than an ‘ask the expert’ format. The sessions will be structured around a positive behavioural support model.

The first session is on Thursday 28 January, 10.30am – 12.00pm. The cost is £10.

Click here to book your place

Parent/Carer Meeting: Down’s Syndrome with Complex Needs including Autism Spectrum Condition

Tuesday 2 February 2021 | 10.30am – 12.00pm

Our parent meetings enable parents and specialists to share information and experiences and to guide DSA work.

This meeting will include a presentation on

  • Understanding Dual Diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Condition by Geraldine White, Clinical Psychologist

There will also be plenty of time for questions and general discussion in a small and friendly group.

Sign up here.

Well-being Wednesday for Parents/Carers

Wednesday 03 Febuary 2021 |10.30am – 11.30am

Finding the time to recharge the batteries can be difficult and so these new FREE fortnightly sessions will offer an opportunity to unwind and relax in a friendly and non-judgmental group with people who understand.

Click here to sign-up

New dates for our online training events will be added here in the new year for the following sessions:

  • Supporting early development from birth to 4 years
  • Early years and primary education
  • Secondary education
  • Supporting behaviour positively for children from 3 to 11 years
  • Supporting behaviour positively for young people from 11 to 18 years
  • Planning for a good life
  • Supporting adults who have Down’s syndrome
  • Parent carer meetings
  • Puberty and adolescence
  • Workfit events
  • DSA updates
  • Ageing and dementia
  • Guest researcher webinars
  • Our Voice events
  • DS Engage events
  • And more…

Dementia and Down’s syndrome

New dates coming soon.

We know that adults with Down’s syndrome have a greater chance of developing dementia, but what are the changes we need to look out for? How do you go about getting an assessment for someone who might be developing dementia? A change in an adult’s function could be due to some other issue, what else could be happening?

This 90-minute webinar will guide through this process and talk about resources and support available from The Down’s Syndrome Association that focus on older age.

Puberty and Adolescence 

New dates coming soon.

This two-hour online training is for suitable for parents, carers and practitioners supporting young people who have Down’s syndrome through puberty. The training will cover body changes, hormones, privacy, boundaries, and consent. We will also be looking at accessible resources to support understanding around growing up.

Supporting Behaviour Positively: 11 to 18 years

New dates coming soon.

This training webinar will cover how we look to support behaviour positively for young people who have Down’s syndrome aged 11 to 18 years.

We begin with a recap of the general learning profile associated with Down’s syndrome and individual needs before looking at social and emotional development. We discuss ways of changing difficult to manage behaviours and strategies used to promote behaviour change. We then look at useful resources that can support you in these areas

Supporting Adults who have Down’s Syndrome

DATES COMING SOON

A webinar for all those with an interest in supporting adults with Down’s syndrome. The session will look at:

  • How what we know about the learning profile of people with Down’s syndrome can help us to maximise opportunities for independence in adulthood.
  • An overview of the health needs of adults with Down’s syndrome, with strategies to address possible health inequalities they may experience.
  • Supporting decision making and maximising opportunities for independence.

Personal Budgets and Self-Directed Support

DATES COMING SOON

This webinar is about Personal Budgets and Self-Directed Support – which means people, regardless of age and what help and support they may need, being in control of their own lives and being able to organise support and services in a way that makes sense and works well for them and their families.

More details

‘Personal budget’ is the term used to describe the overall cost of the care and support services the local authority or CCG arranges or provides to meet a person’s needs. It is usually worked out on a weekly basis and is an important part of getting help from the local authority.

This webinar will look at how personal budgets are set, what they can be used for, examples of how creatively you can use them – it will also give you an overview of your rights and entitlements and what good examples of personalised support can look like.

A personal budget is defined in the Care Act 2014 as having three parts:

  1. overall cost to the local authority of meeting your needs (i.e. the eligible needs it is legally required to meet, or needs it decides to meet)
  2. the amount payable by you (after you have had a financial assessment)
  3. net amount the local authority must pay to meet your needs.

The amount of money in your personal budget can be spent in one of three ways:

1 A managed account: the local authority manages your personal budget in line with your wishes as agreed in the care plan. They look after the money, make arrangements for your care and support, and pay fees out of your personal budget. For example, if you need care and support at home, the authority arrange care services, usually provided by an agency, and pay them from your personal budget.

2 An account managed by a third party: Similar to a managed account, except a third party, sometimes called a broker, manages your personal budget. This can be the actual service provider. These are often referred to as ‘individual service funds’.

3 Direct payments: You are given the personal budget money to spend yourself on meeting your needs, in line with your care plan, in the way that suits you best.

DSA Tell it Right® webinar for Maternity Services and Universities

Dates and times to follow

This Webinar is for all student and health professionals working in fetal medicine, maternity and neonatal services including midwives, neonatal nurses, sonographers and health visitors.

Down's Syndrome Association

The Tell it Right ® webinar provides information about:

  • Down’s syndrome that is balanced, accurate and up-to-date
  • How best to support expectant parents through the screening process
  • How best to impart information to parents and families, following a pre/post-natal diagnosis of Down’s syndrome
  • Some common issues which may affect a baby who has Down’s syndrome in the early weeks of life.

Through filmed case studies you will be able to reflect on:

  • The decision making processes related to screening
  • The parents’ perspective
  • What life is like for a person with Down’s syndrome

To find out more email: training@downs-syndrome.org.uk