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Behavioral Supports

Autism Tennessee

Autism Tennessee exists to enrich the lives and experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum, their families, and their surrounding community through support, advocacy, and education.

American Academy of Pediatrics Information on Down Syndrome

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed a page on their parents website with information pertaining to medical topics that affect physical health.

Aging and Down Syndrome

NDSS resource for families, professionals, direct caregivers or anyone concerned with the general welfare of an adult with Down syndrome.

Behavior and Down Syndrome: A Practical Guide for Parents

David Stein, PsyD of the Developmental Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Boston developed this guide to provide sound, practical advice for parents of children with Down syndrome. Recognizing that each child is unique but also that there are some common areas that can present challenges and also particular strategies that have proven successful.

Down Syndrome Clinic at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

The clinic provides comprehensive care and professional services to children and teens with Down syndrome. The clinic staff assists patients in finding therapeutic services and educational/behavioral support and providing a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

Down Syndrome Mental Health Project

Information on medical, behavioral, social, and mental health issues for people with Down Syndrome, including practical how-to guidelines for improved understanding, management, and treatment planning.

Home and Community Positive Behavior Support Network (HCPBS)

The Home and Community Network of the Association of Positive Behavior Support is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding and enhancing the application of PBS principles across home and community settings, contexts, and the lifespan for people with behavioral challenges and the systems that support them.

How to write a social story

Social Stories™ are effective methods to provide guidance and directions for responding to various types of social situations. The stories are used to describe social situations specific to individuals and circumstances while promoting self-awareness, self-calming, and self-management. Social Stories™ are not meant to change behavior; rather, they are meant to clarify social expectations.

Key Advice from Behavioral Expert

Dennis McGuire, Ph.D., two-time recipient of Global’s Award of Excellence—in Medical Outreach and Psychology—and co-author of Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome and The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome, shares three important takeaways regarding behavioral health in people with Down syndrome.

Supporting Positive Behavior in Kids with Down Syndrome

One page behavior support ducument adapted by Andrew Crim with permission from Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome: The Respond but Don’t React Method by David Stein, PsyD and published by Woodbine House. 

Tennessee Behavior Supports Project

Response to Instruction and Intervention-Behavior (RTI2-B) offers a powerful, evidence-based approach for meeting the behavioral and social needs of students in Tennessee schools. RTI2-B is a framework for prevention and intervention within an integrated, three-tiered approach. Each tier of the framework involves careful reflection on the needs of students, the design of interventions matching those needs, and the collection of data to evaluate progress.

Tracking Devices for Kids Who Wander

There is nothing scarier for a parent than losing their child, and for parents who have kids who wander, that fear is always in the back of our minds. This article on The Mighty discusses the best tracking devices for kids.