The Down Syndrome Development Trust’s first training event proved a success, with guest speaker Leela Baksi from Symbol UK.

About Symbol UK

Symbol has been able to demonstrate a model of speech and language therapy which acknowledges people with Down syndrome have a unqies profile which lends itself to a particular way of learning. Symbol has in collaboraration with other stakeholders, developed and research a range of specialist evidence based services.

The day was very well attended by more than 50 delegates, made up of professionals and parents. The day started with and introduction from Sen Smallwood of the DSDT and then followed by comprehensive coverage of speech and language issues for children of pre school to teenage yrs by senior SALT Leela Baksi. Throughout the day Leela effectively engaged the audience giving opportunities for practical discussion and advice on topics relevant to the questions raised by the attendees. Down Syndrome Development Trust also offered delegates the opportunity to take part in a free practical follow up clinic to consolidate skills learnt on the day. This clinic is due to take place in May and will be hosted in a school within East Sussex . This clinic is now fully booked.

Quotes from people on the day

‘Comprehensive and informative’

‘Excellent content, very good presentation’

‘Very informative. excellent, easy to understand format’

Further training days and clinics available

Down Syndrome Development Trust will be hosting our next East Sussex training day on Sept 20th 2013 titled ‘I’m not stubborn, I’m tenacious‘ addressing the topic on behaviour with Guest speaker Tessa Duffy MD of the Symbol group.

A leaflet will shortly be available to download here.
This day will also be followed by a practical clinic.

Your support is leading to results!

Roche Laboratories, teamed with other researchers, just published results describing a compound that reverses impaired brain cell signaling in a mouse model with Down syndrome.
The data demonstrated major cognitive and behavioral improvements in the mouse
model.

In 2011, Roche initiated a human clinical trial testing compound, RD 1662,
in persons with Down syndrome. This is a Phase I trial testing drug safety
and tolerability. Roche expects to complete this study this year. The compound
had already been tested in healthy volunteers and was shown to be well
tolerated. A second, non-drug study to evaluate cognition and adaptive behavior
in adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome is also underway.

Your contributions to Down Syndrome research helped fund the field of Down
syndrome cognitive research and the discovery of other potential drug
therapies.

Down Syndrome Development Trust will continue to use your generous donations to ensure greater life opportunities for persons with Down syndrome.