About FOUNDATIONS of Education
Welcome to our Third Edition of FOUNDATIONS of Education. The purpose of our quarterly newsletter is to provide resources to educators, introduce the best learning techniques for people with Down syndrome, and provide training and workshops for school personnel. Our goal is for educators to be equipped and knowledgeable on best practices for a successful classroom!
Click here to learn more about FOUNDATIONS of Education.
Mark your calendars!
We celebrate World Down Syndrome Day to educate and bring awareness to others on what Down syndrome is and the value they bring to the community. People with Down syndrome were born with a third copy of the 21st chromosome (3/21).

Come join us on March 21, 2023 to CELEBRATE World Down Syndrome Day.

The FOUNDATION and the Orlando Magic have teamed up to offer discounted tickets to the community. We will be announcing the Inclusion Champion of the Year at half time, recognizing the school with the most attendance, and celebrating the power of inclusion!
This is an evening you WON'T want to miss!
Inclusion Champion of the Year: We are looking for teachers who go above and beyond to provide the inclusion experience for students! Whether that is a football coach, math teacher, theater teacher- we are looking for someone who values the belief that ALL children learn from each other.

On 3/21 at our Magic Night of Inclusion we will be awarding: Inclusion Champion of the Year Award. This individual will be recognized on the court at half time for their tremendous devotion to inclusive education.
The Inclusion Champion of the Year will be awarded:
  • $321 dollars
  • Pizza party for his/her class
  • Trophy
  • 2 FREE tickets to the Magic vs. Wizard game on 3/21.

Click here to nominate a teacher!

*All nominees will receive a certificate, recognition on The FOUNDATION's website and will have a letter sent to their principal notifying them of their nomination for the award.
Navigating Boundary Confusion in People with Unique Abilities
On December 8, The FOUNDATION hosted teachers, paras, administrators and therapists for: Navigating Boundary Confusion in People with Unique Abilities. There were representatives from 7 different counties in Central Florida. Terri Couwenhoven is a well known certified sex educator and author, specializing in the design and implementation of sexuality programs and resources for people with intellectual and developmental delays.

Following the program, participants were able to:

  • Identify 3 reasons boundaries are important for all of us.
  • Describe 3 pervasive scripts that people with unique abilities experience that contribute to boundary confusion.
  • Identify educational resources designed for students with unique abilities that address key aspects of boundary instruction.
What teachers said about our Navigating Boundary Confusion in People with Unique Abilities Workshop:
"I thought it was an excellent workshop and happy that these topics are being talked about and information about boundaries is being taught."

"I learned, I need to give more room for the student to make their own choices."

"Students with Down syndrome are more than capable in areas most think they aren't."

"Teaching those personal boundaries isn't easy, but necessary for independence."
TouchMath is a multisensory math program that makes critical math concepts appealing and accessible for students who struggle to understand grade-level content. Every numeral from one through nine has TouchPoints corresponding to the digit’s value. Numerals one through five have single TouchPoints. Numerals six through nine have double TouchPoints. Students count aloud as they touch the single TouchPoints once and double TouchPoints twice. The numeral zero has no TouchPoints and is never touched or counted. This concrete approach engages students on auditory, visual, and tactile/kinesthetic levels.

A connection to the world and to the people around us is life sustaining. But for some individuals with complex learning needs, that connection can be limited. More than 20 years ago, when speech-language pathologist Jacquie Clark discovered that students with autism and other unique learning needs lacked accessible materials connecting them to current events, she created the symbol-supported newspaper, News2you. Today, this online weekly newspaper, differentiated to four levels, is bridging the gap for students in more than 60,000 classrooms across the country.
Studies have identified that children with Down syndrome have a specific developmental profile of strengths and challenges. This graphic summarizes the strengths and challenges associated with the main aspects of the specific learning profile as well as the unique range of sensory, physical, and cognitive needs of this group of learners.
How Do Schools Become Effective and Inclusive?

A Schedule that accounts for the full range of needs in the class—where no student engages in “pull out” or alternative activities to the extent that disruptions in the daily schedule and in peer relationships do not occur.  

A Curriculum that is rich and accommodating for all students—and when further individualized to meet the needs of a particular learner.

 A Teaming Process in which support staff work in flexible, coordinated ways to strengthen the collaborative relationships among special and regular educators, parents and educators, and educators and the community. 

 A Classroom Climate that embraces diversity, fosters a sense of social responsibility, and supports positive peer relationships

Inclusive systems provide a better quality education for all children and are instrumental in changing discriminatory attitudes. Schools provide the context for a child's first relationship with the world outside their families, enabling the development of social relationships and interactions.
Opportunities
Project Social Code is looking for teachers to team up with! Project Social Code is a five-year project with the goal of helping teachers integrate STEM and communication skills for learners with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID). The project is funded through a $2.5 million Stepping-up Technology grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. After reviewing applications from across the country, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) awarded this grant to UCF and UCP right here in Central Florida!

Teachers receive:
  • Weekly coaching
  • DASH robots and iPads
  • $500 Stipend
  • Teacher training

contact@projectsocialcode.com
Do you have a success story to share with us? 
We would love to hear from you! Please email lauren.frosch@dsfflorida.org.
People with Down syndrome are more ALIKE than different:
How can we help YOU?

Click here to let us know how we can help YOU in your classroom.
We can work TOGETHER to help your students reach their maximum POTENTIAL by giving them OPPORTUNITIES to achieve all the SUCCESS in the world!
Are you an educator that is looking for support with a student with Down syndrome?

Click here to subscribe to the FOUNDATIONS of Education or email lauren.frosch@dsfflorida.org for more information.
Let's get social!
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Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida www.dsfflorida.org