Down syndrome and employment Supporting meaningful employment of people with Down syndrome

What is Down syndrome Down syndrome is the most common genetic disability. It is not an illness or a disease. Down syndrome is caused when a person is born with an extra chromosome. People with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of 46. They have an extra chromosome 21, which is why Down syndrome is sometimes known as trisomy 21. There are approximately 13,000 people in Australia have Down syndrome. The birth rate for Down syndrome is one in every 1,100 births in Australia. Down syndrome is a disability that impacts intellectual development, some physical characteristics and aspects of a person’s physical health. Because no two people are alike, this will vary from one person to another.

Why is employment important? Employment for a person with Down syndrome is important for the same reasons as it is for everyone else. Being employed can mean: being more independent earning money learning new skills meeting new people feeling valued building self confidence using time purposefully

Benefits for the organisation high attendance rates job loyalty high enthusiasm for the job good rates of punctuality Research shows that having people with Down syndrome employed has a positive impact on leadership, client satisfaction, culture and motivation. It’s simply the right thing to do.

Considerations People with Down syndrome may have some difficulties with communication. The person with Down syndrome may be unfamiliar with the workplace setting and need support to develop positive working relationships. Staff will need to adjust expectations of the amount of time a task may take. Staff may need to provide training more frequently or in a different way.

Communication tips Talk directly to the person with Down syndrome. Build rapport and trust with them. Listen to them. Explain things simply using clear and simple language. No jargon and no acronyms and no complex terminology. People with Down syndrome are visual learners and so the use visual aids where possible will help with training and task lists. Don’t provide multiple talking points at once. Break the information down into smaller parts which allows time to process the information. Ask questions one at a time and encourage the person to ask questions back. Consider the environment – lighting and background noise can have an impact on the person’s understanding. Check back with the person if they have understood what has been said. Have patience and don’t rush the person with Down syndrome. Be patient and provide enough time for the person to respond. Provide the person with written/visual information to take away.

What can you do to help? Treat the person with Down syndrome in the same way you would other colleagues. Welcome them into the organization. Help orientate them to the work environment. Make sure they are included in any social opportunities.

For more information www.downsyndrome.org.au