THE AMBASSADORS
Health Supplement
THE AMBASSADORS
Health
Supplement
BOOK REVIEW
Volume 1,
Issue 3
November 1998
Down Syndrome:
A Promising Future,
Together
Edited by:
 |
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Dr. T. J. Hassold |
Dr. D. Patterson |
'It is foreseeable that Down Syndrome- A Promising Future, Together will become an essential reference for families of people with Down syndrome, physicians, primary health care professionals, researchers, educators, social workers, early intervention workers, and students. It provides practical advice from leading practitioners and advocates in the field of Down syndrome research and care.'
Down Syndrome.- A Promising Future, Together (Wiley-Liss Publishers) is a true 1998 Christmas gift for many families affected by Down Syndrome. The genetic syndrome is caused by a chromosomal abnormality and affects the person's physical and cognitive development. With over 5,000 born with Down Syndrome every year in the U.S. alone, the genetic disorder is currently the most common chromosomal abnormality worldwide. As the number of people who will interact with this genetic condition increase substantially, the need for more widespread public education and acceptance is becoming a demanding issue.
The idea for the book grew out of a national conference on Down Syndrome sponsored by the National Down Syndrome Society (N.D.S.S.) intended to discuss clinical, educational, developmental, psychosocial and vocational issues relevant to people with Down syndrome. The conference brought together a broad group of participants; people with Down syndrome (D.S.), their families, health professionals involved in the care of individuals with Down syndrome, and scientists engaged in D.S. research. As the 500 conference participants attest, a great amount of material was presented in the 4-day conference, the highlights of which Hassold and Patterson attempt to capture and summarize in their book.
| With over 350, 000 families affected by Down Syndrome in the United States alone, the genetic disorder is an integral part of many people's lives, both families and health care practitioners. For this reason, Hassold and Pattern's book is designed to meet the needs of parents and professionals alike, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date look at life with Down syndrome. It discusses current trends and presents the most recent update of the Health Care Guidelines for Individuals with Down Syndrome - Down Syndrome Preventative Medical Check List, which groups by age medical assessments and other vital information. In addition, Down Syndrome - A Promising Future, Together isn't sparing in controversies. Also covered are the much-debated high-profile issues surrounding alternative and nonconventional therapies. Unlike most scientific reference texts, the book is filled with personal stories of young adults with Down syndrome including an account by Chris Burke of the television series Life Goes On. Definite must-reads are the heart-warming stories of Tiffany, an adopted 4-year-old girl with D.S. and Gabe, a 20-year-old with Down syndrome, playing for his high school football team. Other chapters include: step-by-step advocacy skills, health and clinical care, genetics, psychological issues such as behavior problems and sex education, communication, language, literacy, inclusive education for children with Down syndrome, transitions to adulthood and the role of the family. |
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The book also tackles rising topics such as the prevention and therapy of Down syndrome patients. Dr. Van Dyke (Iowa Univ.) & Dr. Mattheis (Univ. of Montana) co-authored a chapter together entitled "Alternative and Unconventional Therapies in Down syndrome" (pg. 101-111) analyzing in-depth the unconventional, unorthodox and often controversial therapeutic methods used with Down Syndrome. Van Dyke and Mattheis included in this book a comprehensive list (see below) of alternative therapies for Down syndrome.
Overall, the editors, Drs. Hassold and Patterson, must be congratulated for their effort in preparing this celebrated book which we have no reservations in recommending for purchase and encourage its translation into different languages.
Dr. Terry J. Hassold received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1977 and is well known for his research on the incidence, origin, and etiology of human chromosome abnormalities. He has been on the medical school faculty of the University of Hawaii, Cornell University and Emory University, and is presently a Professor of Genetics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals, and is a member of the scientific advisory board of the National Down Syndrome Society.
Dr. David Patterson received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Brandeis University in 1971 and has published more than 150 journal articles and book chapters. He is presently the President of the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute for Cancer Research in Denver, Colorado, and has been a member of Trustees since 1984. Dr. Patterson is also a member of the faculty at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, where he serves as a professor at both the medical school and the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Genetics. He also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Biology as well as Somatic Cell and Molecular Genetics. Dr. Patterson has been a member of the scientific advisory board of the National Down Syndrome Society for 10 years.
Dr. Talaat .I. Farag FRCP (Edin)
Adjunct Professor, Dalhousie University, Canada
