WDSD 2021 – UNITED KINGDOM

The Down’s Syndrome Association runs a range of online training sessions covering different subjects – a good way to keep in touch with families. A new fortnightly session is called „Sharing Positive Support“.

Sharing Positive Support – New online session

Announcement Sharing Positive Support

The Down’s Syndrome Association is hosting a new fortnightly session, called ‘Sharing Positive Support’, that will offer the opportunity to share your experience around behaviour in children and adults who have Down’s syndrome.

We recognise that the lived experience is a valuable resource for other parents/carers and practitioners. Each session will be facilitated, with a focus on collaboration and sharing rather than an ‘ask the expert’ format. The sessions will be structured around a positive behavioural support model. There will be a monthly theme and we would welcome “case studies” for exploring. Case studies in the January and February sessions were related to: running away, stop and flop, refusal, hitting.

Questions & Answers

Some questions about this new service were answered by the DSA facilitators

Why are you running these sessions? 
We know that a lot of families are wanting help with managing behaviours, particularly at the moment. These sessions offer a structured environment to explore why behaviours might be happening and to come up with strategies as a group.    

How will the sessions work? 
We will hear about a case study brought by a parent or practitioner and the group will have the opportunity to explore what is happening and possible reasons why? The second part of the session will be about coming up with strategies.

Are the session’s training? 
No, there will be a short presentation at the beginning to clarify some of the principles of positive behavioural support however the sessions are about the group exploring a case study together.

How do you decide what you’re going to talk about? 
Either a person can email a case study in advance or bring one on the day. If there is not time to discuss all the case studies in a particular session, we can arrange to bring them to future sessions.

Is there a theme for each session? 
No, any behaviour that is causing problems can be discussed.

More information about the project can be found:
https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about/training/online-training/sharing-positive-support/