The Salah Foundation Funds Global’s Research Program

The Salah Foundation has provided a generous matching grant of $187K to support the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Health & Wellness: Continuing Education for Adults with Down syndrome research program. Building on the program The Salah Foundation previously helped jumpstart, researchers at the University of Denver and Colorado State University are looking at measuring cognition in addition to garnering a better understanding of best practices in life skills and post-secondary education for people with Down syndrome.

The core of the program is a four-module education program carefully designed for adults with Down syndrome. Each module will be taught by respected experts in their fields and will provide participants with important life skills over a course of ten weeks. The entire four-module research program, including data collection, is designed to take place over an 18-month period. Participants will be evaluated before, during, and after each module to provide researchers with valuable empirical data about what works best to improve the life skills of adults with Down syndrome. Instructors work with the participants to develop individualized goals.

A preliminary research module ran from November to December 2015 with excellent results and concluding in various research adaptations.

The follow-on research module, Dance & Physical Fitness, is structured to help participants select enjoyable physical activities, plan weekly schedules that factor in recreational physical activities, and understand basic fitness and the impact on the body. These skills are especially important for the Down syndrome community due to a tendency towards obesity, and because exercise may also help increase cognitive functioning.

The other educational research modules in the program complement each other and provide a range of life-skills training. One module, Safety & Awareness, will focus on how to safely interact with others when socializing or in public. A third module, Communication Skills and Pragmatics, will focus on enhancing social interaction skills, especially peer socialization. The fourth module, Nutrition & Healthy Choices, will provide participants will knowledge about nutrition, meal planning, and how to cook and serve a meal in a social situation with friends or family.

Adults with Down syndrome ages 21 and up are being recruited to participate in the follow-on research program, which will begin on Monday, February 8, 2016 at the University of Denver. Dr. Karen Riley, Dean for the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, is spearheading the research component of the program along with Dr. Deborah Fiddler, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University.

The Salah Foundation is a private foundation by invitation only, that supports non-profits organizations in the United States that strengthen families and communities and advances individuals to become productive and responsible citizens. There is special interest in education, medical research, community development and self-sufficiency programs. In addition to funding the new Continuing Education program. The Salah Foundation has helped fund Global’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Hollywood Ball, as well as the I ♥ YOU Dance Parties, which provide members of the Down syndrome community with an avenue to socialize, get exercise, and become more comfortable with self-advocacy. For more information, go to http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs-conferences-grants/programs/i-love-you-dance-parties-for-adults-with-down-syndrome/