Do you have a new baby?
ADSA can help your family
When there is a pre-natal diagnosis of Down syndrome or a new baby with Down syndrome is born, parents need to know acccurate and current information about Down syndrome. They also need to know that they are not alone.
In recognition of these two key support areas ADSA will (if you want it):
- Provide you with a New Parent Pack prepared by the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association (‘NZDSA’) and outlining basic information about your baby, services available and what you can expect as a new parent of a baby with Down syndrome.
- Organise a visit (either at the hospital or at home) from our Community Liaison Officer. You do not need to take up this offer but as parents we understand that sometimes the listening ear of another parent may help.
- Connect you with a coffee group in your area.
- Provide phone support through the regional parent contacts. Regional parent contacts are parents of people with Down syndrome.
- Provide the services of a Community Liaison Officer who is there to provide you with help and assistance.
- Provide you with access to our library of books, videos and journals with the latest information on Down syndrome.
- Provide you with regular communication via our quarterly newsletter “Outlook” and our website.
- Provide a central information system about the external services available in Auckland to families, for example early intervention, education options, respite care, government services and other activities as well as up to date and relevant links to information sites around the world.
- Provide you with information you will need when your child starts school.
If your child has been diagnosed with a heart condition, you may want to contact the Downs Heart Group, a UK charity, who have been working in this field since 1988. As their name suggests, they deal specifically with the heart issues often associated with Down syndrome. They are happy to share their information with a wider global audience.
Website»
Facebook page»
Or you may want to contact Heart Kids New Zealand.
If you need more information or just someone to talk to, please phone, email or visit us.
Contact details for ADSA»
For information about joining ADSA, view our membership page.
Resources
Nursing Down Syndrome: A short guide to breastfeeding your baby (PDF)»
This brochure, written by Jill Geschwint Rabin, an IBCLC and pediatric speech pathologist, and Ella Gray Cullen, Founder and Executive Director of Julia’s Way and nursing mother of a child with Down syndrome, with input from Kimberly Barbas from Boston Children’s Hospital and Dr. Davidson from the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, is designed to support mothers and medical professionals understand and overcome the challenges that babies sometimes face when attempting to breastfeed.