How to Interact with People with Down Syndrome

While many people with Down syndrome are sociable and want to interact, members of the public can be nervous to engage with them, worrying that there might be a gulf of misunderstanding, or that they could inadvertently offend. The following ideas are intended to help facilitate communication with people with Down syndrome:

Toddlers and young children with Down syndrome sometimes use sign language to communicate. This is a wonderful technique that encourages their oral communication. You can support them when you use signs too!
Once they become verbal, young children with Down syndrome progress from one word to longer utterances. If you wish to interact with a child of this age, allow significant wait time for them to plan what they want to say. Try to avoid interrupting during that time

In typical conversations, we are accustomed to quick exchanges, so pausing can feel unnatural at first, and our instinct is to pile on supplementary questions and remarks. When you refrain from filling the silence it allows space for the child with Down syndrome to process what you said and formulate their answer.

Here is an example:

Conversational Partner (CP): “Is that your Halloween costume?”

…. 9 second pause…

Person with Down Syndrome: “Yeah.”

Conversational Partner: “It’s really cool. What are you dressing up as?”

…. 7 seconds …

Person with Down Syndrome: “Firefighter.”

It is important to elicit conversational input from a young person with Down syndrome in a way that matches their stage of communication.
A question like, “What happened at your hockey game?” might require a sentence or two to answer, which might put it beyond the capacity of the child with Down syndrome at a particular communicative level.
Questions which require shorter responses, i.e., “What’s the name of your hockey team?” or “What position do you play?” or “What are you best at: skating or shooting?” could get conversation started at a comfortable level for the young person.
Children with Down syndrome of any age will usually react well to humour. Like other kids their age, they also enjoy facial expressions, exaggerated movements and the liberal use of nicknames, funny voices and sound effects. There is no need to be overly solemn or formal.
As people with Down syndrome get older, their responses are often doubted by their conversational partners. Here is an example:

Conversational Partner: “So, how did you feel when you lost your job?”

Person with Down Syndrome: “Happy.”

Conversational Partner: “Happy? But you were a bit sad, too, right?”

Person with Down Syndrome: “Yeah, sad.”

People with Down syndrome may have legitimate reasons for offering unexpected answers. They will converse more readily and confidently if their conversational partners believe them.

How to Interact with People with Down Syndrome

Join Our Mission