Making a Difference
Clinicians and researchers with the Trisomy 21 Program have used funds raised at the CHOP Buddy Walk® & Family Fun Day to make many breakthroughs for children and adults with Down syndrome. The program would not be the world leader it is today without CHOP Buddy Walk®! These are some areas funded by the CHOP Buddy Walk®:
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Prenatal Diagnosis and Support
Clinicians in the Trisomy 21 Program offer prenatal meetings with expectant parents to answer questions, provide information and resources, as well as offer support to families.
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Care from Birth to Adulthood
The Trisomy 21 Program is one of the few programs in the nation that provides comprehensive care for patients with Down syndrome from birth to adulthood.
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Specialized care and treatment
More than 2,000 individuals with Down syndrome are cared for by developmental pediatricians, nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, clinic coordinators and educational consultants.
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Six times more clinic days
When the program started in 2003, the clinical team saw patients one day a month for coordinated visits. Today, the Trisomy 21 Program hosts clinic six days a month — more than one day each week.
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New growth charts
Researchers from CHOP led the Down Syndrome Growing Up Study, which gathered information about contemporary growth patterns of children with Down syndrome. Most of the children in the study were patients in CHOP’s Trisomy 21 Program. The new charts help families and clinicians determine if a child is growing at an appropriate rate for their age and condition.
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Parent Peer Program
This program gives parents, caregivers and siblings of individuals with Down syndrome the social, emotional and informational support they need by matching them with a peer mentor.
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Trisomy 21 Toolkit
For transitioning to adult medical care, this toolkit includes 16 worksheets to help teens with Down syndrome take more control of their health and medical well-being.
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Trisomy 21 Pool Group
This is a physical and occupational therapy group which teaches water safety, works on improving developmental skills, improving respiration and swim skills while having fun in the pool.
