At a time when education headlines are often dominated by challenges—teacher shortages, test score declines, and funding battles—there’s a bright spot emerging from Ann Arbor, Michigan. According to newly released data, the Ann Arbor Public Schools district has seen a significant rise in graduation rates among two historically underrepresented student groups: students with disabilities and […]

Published July 11, 2025 · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Cortical visual impairment (CVI)—a neurological condition affecting how the brain processes visual information—is now recognized as the most common cause of childhood visual impairment in the U.S. Yet its occurrence alongside Down syndrome (DS) remains underdiagnosed. A new case series in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience explores […]

When Rachel was born, the world didn’t just question her future—it questioned whether her mother was capable of giving her one. Laura, a young woman with Down syndrome, faced a storm of doubt. Doctors warned her. Social workers advised against it. Everyone seemed to have a reason why she couldn’t be a mother. “She won’t […]

Two new studies, one focused on children with complex medical needs and the other on adults, shed fresh light on how widespread and serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections can be and the unique susceptibility infants born with Down syndrome may have. Children with Complex Medical Conditions Face Highest RSV Hospitalization Risk A study published […]

A groundbreaking USC Leonard Davis School study published on June 19, 2025, shines new light on why people with Down syndrome (DS) may develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) earlier and more aggressively—iron may be a core culprit. 1. Why Focus on Iron? 2. Key Research Findings In comparing postmortem samples from individuals with DS + AD […]

For many parents of children with Down syndrome, the diagnosis feels permanent—rooted in every cell of the body. That’s because Down syndrome is caused by something very specific: an extra copy of chromosome 21. Most of us have two copies of each chromosome, but people with Down syndrome have three copies of number 21—this is […]

Inspired by Charlotte Woodward’s inspiring journey In June 2012, at just 22 years old, Charlotte Woodward—a young woman born with Down syndrome—received a donor heart after enduring four open-heart surgeries by age 10. Thirteen years later, she is thriving: dancing, learning guitar, earning a magna cum laude degree in sociology from George Mason University, and […]

Parenting is a demanding journey, and for those raising children with intellectual disabilities, it comes with a unique set of challenges1. Beyond the daily demands, there are often unseen struggles, and one crucial area that can be impacted is a child’s Parenting is a demanding journey, and for those raising children with intellectual disabilities, it […]

A look back at the history of our understanding about the elements that so mix to create a person with Down syndrome is both heartbreaking and hopeful as we see how it’s possible for attitudes to change with knowledge and understanding.

Genetic Clues to Anxiety in Children with Down Syndrome: What Parents Should Know Anxiety is one of the most common 8 o’clock mental health challenges faced by children with Down syndrome, yet it’s often underdiagnosed or misunderstood. Traditional diagnostic tools—built for the general population—frequently miss the signs of anxiety in kids with developmental disabilities. But […]