1. First and foremost: Love and celebrate your child! Remember that your child is more LIKE
other children than unlike other children. Other people will take their cues from you. If you treat
your child with love, respect and acceptance, so will others. It really is that simple.
2. Call Infants & Toddlers or the comparable birth-to-three early intervention program in your
area. All you need to do is call and make a parent referral. You don't need physicians' referrals
or anything "official." Infants & Toddlers provides special education, speech therapy,
occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychological testing, auditory assessments, and more
-- all free of charge. Most services will occur at your convenience in your home or at your
child's day-care facility. Early intervention is very important, and services should start as soon
as possible.
Anne Arundel County 410.222.6911
Frederick County 301.694.1611
Baltimore City 410.396.1666
Harford County 410.638.3823
Baltimore County 410.887.2169
Howard County 410.313.7017
Carroll County 410.876.4437
York, Adams Co., PA 800.632.7568
Cecil County 410.996.5444
3. Make sure that you are on the CDSPG, Inc. mailing list. Networking with other parents makes
everything easier. You may not feel as if you need information or support right now, but it's
good to get the newsletter and stay in contact so that you know how to reach other parents
when the need arises. To request the newsletter or to become a member of the Chesapeake
Down Syndrome Parent Group, Inc., call 410.321.5434, visit us at www.cdspg.org or email us
at info@cdspg.org. To join the group’s listserv, send an email request including your name to
CDSPG-DSRN@yahoogroups.com.
4. Consider other resources which are popular with CDSPG families:
• Kennedy Krieger's Down Syndrome Clinic: Dr. George Capone is a developmental
pediatrician and an expert on Down syndrome. Kennedy Krieger offers a variety of services
and funding for families. The cost is no more than a co-pay if your insurance covers it. To
make a toll-free referral, call 888.554.2080 or visit www.kennedykrieger.org. Pat Winders, a
highly regarded physical therapist, works there also.
• Loyola Clinical Centers (locations in Baltimore and Columbia) for speech and language
therapies. For more information, call 410.617.1200 or visit www.loyola.edu/clinics/Services.html.
• National organizations’ websites:
National Down Syndrome Congress: www.ndsccenter.org
National Down Syndrome Society: www.ndss.org
• Local/regional resource networks such as Family NET Works: www.family-networks.org
•
5. Get a Developmental Disabilities Administration application, fill it out, and return it. The DDA
provides, among other things, funding for support services for your child. If the funds are
available, your child is eligible for up to $2000 of "rolling access money" each year to be used
for therapies, learning tools, adaptive equipment, or other items or services related to your
child's disability. You do not have to be "financially needy" to access this money. Right now,
you may not be able to think of anything your child needs. Fill out the application anyway. It
may take up to a year for your application to get processed. However, it is a relief not to have
to worry about completing the application process when you do want to access the funds. The
sooner you apply for services, the better. Call 877.874.2494 or visit www.dhmh.state.md.us for
an application.
BACK TO NEW PARENT
