How can people with Down syndrome be helped?
Following on from the previous model, we can see how our aim is to try and balance the scales by decreasing demands and increasing capacities. Decreasing demands: • Give the person with Down syndrome plenty of time. Planning what to say and saying it may be slower than you might expect. • Take a slightly longer pause between what he or she has said and your reply this slows the overall speed of the conversation down. Encourage the adult or child also to take longer pauses. This allows thinking time before speaking. • Try to avoid finishing sentences or saying what you think he or she might be trying to get across. • Speak a little slower yourself this gives a model for the child or adult with Down syndrome to follow. • Try not to use too many long and complicated sentences. • Give positive encouragement for the message rather than the style of delivery. Increasing capacities: • For children, helping the language to develop and the vocabulary to expand may reduce the amount of dysfluenc
