World’s Leading Down Syndrome Experts to Gather in Vancouver
Many of the world’s foremost experts in medical care, intervention and education for individuals with Down syndrome will come together later this month for a ground breaking conference, “From Good to Great: Enhancing Quality of Life for Individuals with Down Syndrome.”
“From Good to Great” is the 20th Anniversary Conference and Celebration for the Burnaby-based Down Syndrome Research Foundation. The two-day event is a rich opportunity for parents and professionals alike to learn from an outstanding line up of international speakers addressing topics that cover the full lifespan.
On day one, the conference will provide information about the latest best practice for behavioural support for individuals with Down syndrome, development of communication skills, employment, reading and mathematics, toilet training, individualized supports for maximizing community inclusion, and dementia supports. The day one keynote presenter will be Dr. David Stein, Co-Director of the Down Syndrome Program and a pediatric psychologist within the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
The day two speaker focus is on current research concerning protective strategies to address the higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome, the negative impact of sleep apnea on language and cognitive development, micronutrient requirements and metabolism, endocrinology, protective strategies for anxiety and OCD, service system response for dementia, and a round table discussion on models of community care for people with Down syndrome who develop early onset Alzheimer’s. The keynote presentation on day two will be delivered by Dr. George Capone, Director of the Down Syndrome Clinic and Research Center at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Capone is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at John Hopkins School of Medicine and conducts collaborative and ongoing research in the areas of neuroimaging, neurobehavioral phenotypes, mood disorders, sleep disorders, pharmacologic management and clinical trials.
The conference will also serve as the official launch of the newly released book Snapshot of A Soul Place in the Land of Special Needs, an illustrated memoir of a mother’s 25 year journey raising a child with Down syndrome by Kari Burk.
“From Good to Great” will be an unprecedented occasion in Canada, bringing together families, educators, clinicians, service providers and researchers to learn, share and inspire a better future for individuals with Down syndrome. The conference takes place Oct. 23-24, 2015 at the Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites Vancouver. To learn more or to register, visit http://dsrf.org/GoodtoGreat.
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The Down Syndrome Research Foundation, based in Burnaby and active throughout the Lower Mainland, empowers individuals with Down syndrome to reach their full potential throughout life by pioneering and providing educational programs and services, grounded in foundational research. Working with researchers, professionals and families, DSRF is a bridge between research and practice. DSRF offers programs for individuals with Down syndrome from birth through early adulthood. For more information, please visit www.DSRF.org.
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