Therapies, support, leisure activities – here you can find out what matters in everyday life with a child with Down syndrome and what resources are available in Ulm.
Children with Down syndrome benefit from regular therapy. Most therapies are prescribed by a doctor and covered by health insurance.
Speech therapy
Language and communication. Especially important for DS because of the often delayed language development. Many DS children benefit from sign-supported communication (GuK).
Occupational therapy
Fine motor skills, independence, perception. Helps with everyday skills like getting dressed, eating, drawing.
Physiotherapy
Gross motor skills and muscle development. Important because of muscular hypotonia (low muscle tone), which is typical for DS.
Early intervention
Holistic support from birth. Free through integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe). Often comes to your home.
Oral motor skills
Many DS children have reduced oral motor function. Special exercises (e.g. Castillo Morales method) and oral motor toys help. Ask your speech therapist about this.
Muscular hypotonia
Low baseline muscle tone is typical for DS. Sports and physical activity are therefore especially important – not as therapy, but because it is fun and feels good.
GuK (sign-supported communication)
Many DS children learn to communicate much faster with GuK. It does not replace spoken language but supports it. Ask your early intervention center or speech therapist about it.
Coming soon
This section is currently being put together. Do you have recommendations for inclusive sports or leisure activities in Ulm? Get in touch at kontakt@downkids-ulm.de
Many sports clubs offer inclusive groups. Music schools also often have special programs.
A family relief service (FED) provides hourly care for your child – so that you as parents can also take a breather. The costs are often covered through the relief allowance (131 €/month).
Coming soon
We will list specific FED providers in Ulm and the surrounding area here. Do you know a good provider? Get in touch at kontakt@downkids-ulm.de
At DownKids Ulm, we offer regular meetups, outings, and exchange for the whole family. We look forward to seeing you.
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