It doesn't matter where you are in your personal walk with Down syndrome, we have been through a lot, and we can offer help, suggestions, support, and encouragement. Here are a few common questions we frequently experience and the answers to those questions.
Question: How can the Down Syndrome Family Alliance of Greenville help me?
Answer: By joining the DSFA Greenville, you will have access to years of personal and professional experience in living with, caring for, and working with individuals with Down syndrome. We offer social gatherings for individuals with Down syndrome, and support for parents and caretakers.
Question: When will my child learn to walk?
Answer: Walking is no different. A child with early
intervention has a much better chance at walking earlier than one who has gone
without the intervention. Early intervention can get the physical therapy
needed to build muscle tone and help the child to "learn" muscle behaviors,
thus aiding to rolling over, sitting up, and even walking.
Question: What causes Down syndrome?
Answer: In short, DS is caused when an abnormal cell division involving chromosome 21 happens. There are three different results when this happens, but all results are called "Down syndrome." There are no known behavioral or environmental factors that cause Down syndrome.
Question: Are there different types of Down syndrome?
Answer: Medically speaking, the answer is "yes". Nearly 9 out of 10 individuals with DS have "Trisomy 21." This diagnosis simply means that there are three copies of the 21st chromosome, instead of two. Another form of DS is called "Mosaic Down Syndrome." "In this rare form of Down syndrome, children have some cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21." There also exists situations when a part of Chromosome 21 becomes attached to another chromosome.This form is called "Translocation Down syndrome."
