If the child does not learn the way you teach,
can you teach the way he learns? ~Harry Chasty

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress Education Task Force formed in 2009 to increase communication and collaboration between Massachusetts’ educators and the parents of students with Down syndrome.

Comprised of 14 educators and parent advocates, the task force provides quality information and on-going support to Massachusetts educators and their students with Down syndrome. The group’s top priority is ensuring that students with Down syndrome receive the most meaningful learning opportunities possible. Members are currently tackling two projects aimed squarely at this goal: The formation of MDSC’s Teacher Partnership Network and the creation of a comprehensive Educators Manual for teaching students with Down syndrome.

The Partnership Network is an initiative first piloted in the fall of 2010 that seeks to improve student experiences and outcomes by matching educators with experience teaching children with Down syndrome with educators who do not have such experience. The Educators Manual will be a research-based resource guide that includes information, strategies and best practices for educating students with Down syndrome in an inclusive classroom.

On behalf of the MDSC Education Task Force, we want to thank all those who have already provided their leadership and steadfast commitment to helping students with Down syndrome reach their full potential. We look forward to future collaborations and productive partnerships.

For more information please contact Rosalie Forster, MDSC Education Resource Specialist and Conference Coordinator at rforster@mdsc.org.