Having a child with special needs can present unique challenges. From birth to adolescence, the Down Syndrome Program at Riley at IU Health provides specialized care for children with Down syndrome.
We provide advice and support for families while ensuring every child receives the best care available to grow and develop to his or her full potential.
Our objectives are to:
There are differences in the mental abilities, behavior and physical development of people with Down syndrome. Informed and supportive families, therapists and school and community personnel help children with Down syndrome reach their highest developmental capability.
When your child is seen in our program, he or she will get a coordinated, individualized evaluation. Your child will be seen by a board certified pediatrician who specializes in children with special developmental needs. A nurse practitioner, dietitian, speech therapist, occupational and physical therapists and a social worker are also part of the team and may be consulted if needed following discussion with your doctor.
Our Neonatology Department collaborates with our Developmental Pediatrics Department to treat newborn babies who have Down syndrome and educate their families. Once babies with Down syndrome have been evaluated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and any immediate necessary treatments have been provided, the Down Syndrome Program will work with you to coordinate ongoing care.
Older children may also be referred to the Down Syndrome Program. As your child grows, our program grows, too. As part of the Developmental Pediatrics Department, our team is able to adjust the care we provide to your child’s changing needs. Close communication throughout the hospital departments means that specialists are easily accessible in the event that more care is needed.
Our developmental pediatrics doctors help families transition from child care to adult care when the time comes. Conversations about this transition begin early so that the process is as smooth as possible. The goal is to enable patients to move toward independence and to ensure that they have the resources for optimal decision-making. This transition typically happens sometime between the ages of 18 and 25. The Center for Youth and Adults With Conditions of Childhood (CYACC) aids in this transition.
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
The Down Syndrome Program at Riley at IU Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.
Consultation Request Form (Riley at IU Health)
Referring providers should fill out this form and fax it to our dedicated referral fax line at 317.944.9760.
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.
We recommend that providers refer newly diagnosed newborns to the Down Syndrome Program within four to six weeks after discharge from the NICU.
Medical students and residents, as well as other learners, have the opportunity to observe in the Down Syndrome Program by contacting Tara O'Sullivan at 317.948.1571.
