The following resources are for women who are considering prenatal screening or have recently learned of the possibility of their child having Down syndrome and are seeking more information. These links can be useful for expectant parents and for medical professionals who are consulting with families who are welcoming a baby who has Down syndrome.
The CDSS position statement on Prenatal Genetic Screening and Testing has been developed to share our perspectives that every woman should have access to fair, balanced and up-to-date information about prenatal screening and diagnostic testing for Down syndrome.
The Canadian Down Syndrome Society created this resource to support informed decision making and to ensure medical professionals and expectant parents have access to accurate and up to date information about Down syndrome.
Your first words to a family have a lifelong impact. The first words to any parent should always be “Congratulations”! As a medical health professional, you are in a position to create a lasting impression when speaking to expectant or new parents of a child with Down syndrome.
We encourage all medical professionals to become familiar about giving a Down syndrome determination and speaking with the family.
With appropriate medical interventions and treatment, most people with Down syndrome can live healthy lives. In 1983, people with Down syndrome only lived to about 25, now the average is 60 years old. However, as with anyone else, there is no definitive life span and some people with Down syndrome have lived well into their 70s.
Some health concerns for people with Down syndrome may include:
It is important to remember that not all people with Down syndrome will experience these health concerns. Most health issues associated with people with Down syndrome also occur in the general population and in many cases, the health conditions can be successfully treated and managed by careful monitoring.
The best people to answer questions about Down syndrome are people with Down syndrome. In 2016, we found the most-asked questions on Google and asked 10 Canadians with Down syndrome to give their answers.
Click here to view short videos that answer some common questions
