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Young Adults with Down syndrome enjoy our
Health and Wellness Exercise Group. |
LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Following nutrition and exercise guidelines for a healthy
lifestyle can benefit everyone, including individuals with Down
syndrome. All children should have
access to good healthcare and be seen regularly by a physician
and a dentist. Many
children with Down syndrome also have a long list of
specialists. All of your child's doctors should be
familiar with the Down Syndrome Healthcare Guidelines and have a
copy of the Growth Charts for tracking the height and weight of
individuals with Down syndrome.
It is important to get our children
involved in exercise at an early age in order to develop healthy
lifestyle habits. This means more than an organized sport
once a week. It may be helpful to choose, along with
team-type sports, sports that allow lifelong participation
at an individual's activity level, such as swimming, aerobics and dance,
weightlifting and other activities that people do at the gym,
tennis, or bike riding, etc. Click on the Recreation link
above to see information about sports in our community.
Gold Coast Down Syndrome
Organization introduced a Health and Wellness Exercise Group for
our young adults and adults with Down syndrome. Meeting
weekly with a certified fitness instructor, the individuals
enjoy the opportunity for physical activity and social
interaction with peers while some time is spent discussing
making healthy food choices.
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The Gold Coast Down
Syndrome Organization participates in the National Down Syndrome
Society program Changing Lives: Down Syndrome & the
Healthcare Professional. This program is designed to
educate physicians, nurses, genetic counselors and other
health care professionals on the clinical and developmental needs
of people with Down syndrome. If you know of a group of
healthcare professionals that could benefit by watching the
video, "Down Syndrome and the Healthcare Professional," please
contact our office at 561-912-1231 or email us at
gcdso@bellsouth.net.
The purpose of Changing Lives:
Down Syndrome & the Healthcare Professional is to:
- Educate professionals on the
medical and developmental needs of people with Down syndrome
and the best-care practices to address them.
- Prepare professionals to
deliver diagnoses and other sensitive information.
- Provide information on local
and national resources.
- Supply materials and
information for new and expectant parents.
- Foster on-going relationships
between professionals and parents.
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