The following Resources are suggestions from AIM's Literacy and Youth program teacher:-

Win/Win Advice for the Inclusive Classroom By: Barbara Tien and Claire Clelland

Effective Teaching Strategies for Successful Inclusion: A Focus on Down Syndrome

Behaviour Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom By: Beth Aune, Beth Bert and Peter Gennaro

More Behaviour Solutions in and Beyond the Inclusive Classroom By: Beth Aune, Beth Bert and Peter Gennaro

Teaching Reading to Chidren with Down Syndrome By: Patricia Logan Oelwein

A Reading Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome By: Kelly Burgoyne, Fiona J Duff, Paula J Clarke, Sue Beckley, Margaret J Snowling, Charrles Hulme

I Get It: Buiding Social Thinking and Reading Comprehension through Book Charts By: Audra Jensen

Breaking Bread, Nourishing Connections: People with and without Disabilities Together at Mealtime By: Karin Melberg Schweir and Erin Schwier Stewart

Flourish: People with Disabilities Living with Passion By: Karin Melberg Schwier

Down Syndrome Parenting 101 By: Natalie Hale

Nobody Ever Told Me (or my Mother) That! : Everything from Bottles and Breathing to Healthy Speech Development By: Diane Bahr, SLP

Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome By: Libby Kumin

The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles By: Joan Guthrie

Online Resource:

• PREP Program
• Down Syndrome Education International
• Canadian Down Syndrome Society
• National Down Syndrome Society
• Down Syndrome Research Fondation

A new school year means a transition to a new classroom with a new teacher, new support staff, new classmates and new expectations. This can bring upon a lot of anxiety for both students, parents and teachers. To help ease the transition and prepare the teacher and school team (and/or daycare team) for working with your child, you can make an information sheet or work with your AIM team to create one for your child or young adult.The information sheet is a simple and concise document that provides an overview of who your child is, what their strengths are, some strategies that work well for them, some strategies that don’t work well for them, some goals they are working on, and how to support them. It’s quick for school staff (and/or daycare staff) to refer to throughout the day and ensures that your child is being supported in a way that works for them. An example of the document is below. You can create this document yourself using templates found on www.canva.com or work with your team at AIM during individual sessions to create a document!

Get PDF

The Just Like You-Down Syndrome video is a great resource for teaching your class about Down syndrome.

Questions about Down Syndrome: The best people to answer questions about Down syndrome are people with Down syndrome.https://cdss.ca/down-syndrome-answers Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS)

When people look or act different, the best thing to do is try to understand and accept them. Take a walk in their shoes-experience what they experience!

Activities to try:

• Tie shoes while wearing mittens
• Read aloud with a mouth full of mini marshmallows or soda crackers
• Print while sitting on high stool at table, feet not touching ground
• Listen while wearing headphones or earplugs
• Flintstones Hearing Loss

Rock your Socks: Everyone should "Rock Your Socks" on March 21 World Down syndrome Day! It’s easy enough to participate, just stick your hand in your sock drawer and see what comes out. Bright and colourful socks, striped, mismatched, long – just as long as you’re making a statement.

People who may want to get involved:

Schools, businesses, friends, family, community groups, girl guides, girl scouts, boy scouts, politicians, police men and police women, nurses & doctors, city folk, town folk, county folk and the list goes on and on and on and on.

Show your colours and get involved with World Down syndrome day. It's easy. Take pictures wearing your cool socks and share them by posting on media pages for everyone to see your LOVE, SUPPORT & AWARENESS you are raising. Oh what a great day it will be! When someone asks you , "Why are you wearing those crazy socks"!!!!" Tell them you are wearing them for Andrew who is your friend that has Down syndrome! Wear them for someone you know with Down syndrome! Wear them for Down syndrome Awareness!

Invite your friends because We are more alike than different ..... now go "Rock Your Socks!"

Click on link to obtain a copy of the Educator Resource – A guide to inclusive education settings for children with Down syndrome from CDSS

Community Resources:

• The Canadian Down Syndrome Society
• Saskatchewan Down Syndrome Society
• Inclusion Saskatchewan
• Community Living Saskatoon
• Wascana Rehabilitation Centre (Regina)
• Kinsmen Children’s Centre (Saskatoon)
• Early Childhood Intervention Programs (ECIP)
• Saskatchewan Disability Income Support Coalition
• PREP (Calgary)
• Down Syndrome Resource Centre (BC)
• RT21

The programs/organizations listed below are not affiliated with The AIM Program. It is up to parents and caregivers to determine if a program is the best fit for their child/teen/young adult with Down syndrome.

• PAAL
• CLASI
• Dance Collective YXE
• Special Olympics
• Camp Easter Seal