Welcome to the Family Education Program!  The curriculum provides a holistic approach to ensuring your child’s success in school by focusing on academics, advocacy, behavior and social interaction. The 90 minute program takes place during the academic year at the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Resource Center.

 The Family Education Program involves the whole family.

• Parents attend eight 90 minute workshops during the academic year
• Children participate in Facilitated Educational Play led by a teacher and a developmental specialist
• Tweens and Teens participate in Facilitated Social Interaction

Sessions are held once a month (excluding December) at the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization Resource Center 7300 N. Federal Highway Suite 100 in Boca Raton

The Family Education Program is divided into four age groups:

• PreK to Lower Elementary – this group focus is:
• Teaching reading using a curriculum based on 30 years of research
• Providing parents with materials they can use at home
• Giving parents hands-on instruction at every class on how to use the materials
• Sharing best practices for managing behavior
• Creating opportunities to meet and share with other parents
• Upper Elementary– this group focus is:
• Creating and reinforcing positive behaviors
• Building Independence
• Transitioning to Middle School
• Creating opportunities to meet and share with other parents
• Middle School-this group focus is:
• Encouraging parent-directed discussion
• Presenting lectures on topics of interest to the group
• Transitioning into High School
• Creating opportunities to meet and share with other parents
• High School – this group focus is:
• Transitioning to adulthood
• Offering lectures on Social Security, Guardianship, Vocational Rehabilitation, and more
• Creating opportunities to meet and share with other parents