What people with Down Syndrome are capable of...

  There is no set "severity" of individuals with Down syndrome. The people with it have a wide range of abilities and disabilities. The effect that the extra genetic material has on an individual's development varies widely. The future development of a baby with down syndrome doesnt predict what the future will hold. Some children have few additional health problems and some have serious health problems as a result of having Down syndrome. They all experience some degree of learning disability, with some children progressing within the lower ability range of the non-disabled children in ordinary schools.  They never stop learning. They continue to learn and pick things up through to adulthood.  That being said, each child or adult with Down syndrome must be considered as an individual and his or her needs determined as an individual, taking account the possible effects of Down syndrome on development, but not assuming that Down syndrome alone will determine development.  So keep the goals high!  If a person with down syndrome is capable of writing their driving test, and pass - they get their license.  If they are capable of looking after themselves with no or little help, they can live on their own!  Can they have babies?  Both women and men with Down syndrome can be fertile, although both sexes have a reduced fertility rate. Some people with learning disabilities can successfully parent their children, given the right support. However, many couples with learning disabilities decide for themselves not to have children because of the responsibility and hard work involved, or for financial reasons. Where one parent has Down syndrome, there is a 35% to 50% chance that the child would inherit the syndrome. This chance is even higher where both parents have Down syndrome. .We dont know of where LIncoln will be in the future, but as far as his memory, He is doing very well.  He can do age 3+ puzzles... probably with his eyes closed.  His fine motor skills are the same as the average child.  The delay on him walking and his ability to chew foods is simply a result from low muscle tone, not the functionality of his brain.  Speech and language development is usually the children's area of most significant delay. Most children understand more than they can say and signing is an important bridge to speaking, which is why we really encourage Lincoln to use his signs instead of moaning and pointing to what he wants.  He knows more than 35 signs ranging from eating, sleeping, friends, play, book, school, help, please and thank-you just to name a few. He is quite quick at picking them up.  My brother decided to teach him the sign *poop*, and now, everytime he poops, he grabs his diaper and signs poop - this to me was a sign that he must be ready to start potty training.  nope, he would sit on the potty for 3 mins, get off, poop, sit back on, get off, poop.  So, we're working on that.  Typically, potty training will be delayed as well, but I guess its really on how hard you work at it just as everything else!  I enjoy working hard at our goals. I'm a stay at home mom - what else do i have to do?  besides play with my children, help them learn in the way that learning is possible for them individually, and oh - cook/bake.  Lincolns my side kick.  Even though he wont touch what we bake, (he hates sweets... hes never even tried them, and i am sure if he would just put it in his mouth he would realize how GOOD chocolate actually is!!)  he is really good at adding ingredients and stirring.  We usually have extra chocolate chips in everything:) The development of individuals with Down syndrome is influenced by the quality of care, education, and social experience offered to them, just like all other people.  Children with Down syndrome are children first, with the same social, emotional and learning needs as other children. They wish to be included in the world of childhood in their community and to learn and play with all the other children.  No two people with it are similar - they may have similarities, but are each their own unique person.  Everyone is an individual, so stereotyping them as happy, loving people is just that - a stereotype.  Sure they have those characteristics, but lets not pin point down syndrome people with a *type*.  People with Down syndrome should not be seen as different but rather as people who happen to have some additional needs.  So all in all, people with down syndrome are capable of doing ... anything really.  Time will tell what Lincoln's capabilities are, and we are doing our very best to maximize every opportunity, and will continue to support and encourage him in the future to make the best out of his life!