The DSV Education Program
Down Syndrome Victoria (DSV) believes that all students have the right to an inclusive and equitable education in their local school with their peers, accessing the Victorian curriculum through the provision of reasonable adjustments. The DSV Education Program supports Victorian schools to achieve this.
The Down Syndrome Victoria Education Program offers a wide range of services to teachers, schools and parents to support students with Down syndrome:
Educator professional development
Online webinars delivered in semester one to assist teachers to support students with Down syndrome in their schools. Visit our events page to see what’s on, or contact our education team on the details below.
Parent webinars
A range of topics are covered throughout the year to assist parents with their child’s school experience, including Transition to primary and secondary school and Advocating for your child at school in semester one, and Preparing for primary and secondary school in semester two. Visit our events page to see what’s on, or contact our education team on the details below.
Biennial education conference
Expert speakers present current research on a range of educational topics, in particular strategies to include students with an intellectual disability and improve educational outcomes.
Provision of education resources
Development and sharing of relevant resources to meet the needs of parents and teachers.
You can view our:
The Education Support Service
Down Syndrome Victoria offers an Education Support Service (ESS) to primary and secondary schools throughout Victoria. Our ESS is a classroom-based support service for teachers, providing practical assistance and resources to improve learning outcomes for students with Down syndrome and their peers.
DSV receives Department of Education funding to support students in mainstream government schools who are in transition years. Registration details are below.
What is included in the Education Support Service?
- Three school visits (or 9 hours) per year
- Email and phone consultation as required
- Professional learning for staff
- Support provided in areas including:
- inclusion
- communication
- curriculum modification
- Positive Behaviour Support
- Student Support Group meetings
- specialist resources.
In addition, ESS registered schools gain exclusive access to our Education Platform which includes:
- a forum where you can ask questions and connect with the DSV education team and other educators
- a repository of resources on a wide range of topics pertinent to teaching students with Down syndrome
- a suite of videos from previous DSV Education conferences and webinars
- three modules to enhance your understanding of students with Down syndrome within the framework of writing, reading and behaviour.
The DSV Education Platform is a wonderful resource for educators to learn, connect and enhance their confidence in teaching students with Down syndrome.
How to register for the ESS
In order for schools to register for the ESS, we have two online forms that you will need to complete:
The benefits of an inclusive education
An inclusive education for children with Down syndrome has many benefits including increased learning opportunities and experiences and growth in interpersonal skills. Some children may face challenges in their learning, but there are many strategies available to support success and our Education Support Team are here to help. Studies indicate that appropriate education delivered in inclusive settings offers the best opportunities for children with Down syndrome. Inclusion in typical classrooms is more likely to produce significant gains in expressive language skills and academic success.
Whether a child is in a mainstream or special school setting, maintaining high expectations of both academic achievement and behaviour will help ensure that a student can reach their full potential. Like all of us, people with Down syndrome tend to conform to the expectations of those around them, and if there is no expectation of success, they are unlikely to be successful.
The choice of the school setting for your child can be a challenging one for parents and there are many factors that can influence this decision. Ultimately, families are in the best position to determine the most appropriate educational setting for their child and family.
DSV’s Education Team are here to help, please contact us if you’d like to discuss your child’s education.
