Health Care & Medical Resources
In our lifetime, the single most dramatic change effected by our community has been the astounding improvement of the health of people with Down syndrome. Through the caring innovation of medical professionals, the typical lifespan of an individual with Down syndrome now approaches 60 years of age, the average for all people. Equally important, advancements in cardiology, nutrition, the behavioral sciences, and more have opened a high quality of life for people with Down syndrome.
Some communities are fortunate to have Down syndrome clinics or programs nearby. To find the one nearest you, visit our clinic listing page.
AAP Health Care Information for Families
You can print a checklist for your child’s age, to take with you to your pediatrician here:
- Checklist – prenatal
- Checklist – birth to 1 month
- Checklist – 1 month to 1 year
- Checklist – 1 year to 5 years
- Checklist – 5 years to 13 years
- Checklist – 13 years to 21 years
You can also print the Down Syndrome Growth Charts, updated by the CDC in November 2015
- Boy, Head circumference, Birth to 36 mos
- Boy, Length, Birth to 36 mo
- Boy, Weight, Birth to 36 mos
- Boy, Weight for Length, Birth to 36 mos
- Girl, Head circumference, Birth to 36 mos
- Girl, Length, Birth to 36 mos
- Girl, Weight, Birth to 36 mos
- Girl, Weight for Length, Birth to 36 mos
- Boy, Height, 2 to 20 years
- Boy, Weight, 2 to 20 years
- Girl, Height, 2 to 20 years
- Girl, Weight, 2 to 20 years
The GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome provide first-of-its-kind, evidence-based medical recommendations to support clinicians in their care of adults with Down syndrome. This life-changing resource as published in JAMA covers 9 topic areas deemed critically important for the health and well-being of adults with Down syndrome and outlines critical future research needs.
NDSC is proud to be a key supporter of GLOBAL’s work to bring these to clinicians and families. When you visit the GLOBAL webpage you can download the full guidelines, the guidelines toolkit (a great checklist to take to your appointments), and read more about the authors & workgroup.
Find the guidelines here
The National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices
The NTG is a not-for-profit organization charged with ensuring that the interests of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia – as well as their families and friends are taken into account.