Opportunities Within Reach For Individuals With Down Syndrome

The National Association for Down Syndrome dedicates October as Down Syndrome month, and encourages awareness in online and offline events throughout the month to show how this condition affects many children and adults. Advocacy for individuals with Down Syndrome has increased over the years, but there is always more that can be done to focus on their special needs and the many educators and caretakers that dedicate their lives to the cause.

Even though there might be certain health and education challenges that individuals with Down Syndrome must overcome every day, great strides have been made to help them lead healthy, fulfilling lives in the greater society. Access to government benefits, a free and appropriate public education, therapeutic recreation, and other mobility services are available to people with Down Syndrome and their loved ones who are looking to provide the best living environment.

A recent success story shows how much individuals with Down Syndrome can achieve. A 31-year-old Minnesotan man with Down Syndrome was able to move out of a group home he lived in for 10 years to his very own townhome. In the townhome setting, he is able to decrease the need for around-the-clock care by 25 percent. He is able to do this by having the home wired by Sengistix, a health and safety technology company. Sensors on the front door, bathroom door, stove, under the mattress, and on a cedar box that is his medicine cabinet are all connected to alert his parents, remote caregivers, and townhome maintenance staff should he fall, open the front door after 11 p.m., or forget to take his medicine. By being on his own for an increased amount of time, he is gaining more confidence and life skills.

Littman Krooks LLP counsels individuals with Down Syndrome and their families to get the federal and state support services their loved one needs. Our New York City, White Plains and Fishkill special needs planning attorneys assist in education planning, health benefits, and innovative resources for individuals with Down Syndrome. We believe in helping clients build a strong foundation for their child’s well-being and optimal independence.

To learn more about New York special needs planning, visit http://www.littmankrooks.com/special-needs-planning/ or https://www.specialneedsnewyork.com.