Down Syndrome & Adoption as an Option

Stephanie Thompson still vividly remembers when her son Christopher, now 27 years old, received a diagnosis of Down syndrome. As a young woman and a first time mother, the diagnosis came as a shock. What she wishes her younger self knew? That it would be okay. Stephanie worked for eleven years in many different roles within the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati and has deep insights into when, where and how a diagnosis of Down syndrome is given to parents and how this can be handled better. Today, Stephanie is the Director of the National Down Syndrome Network (NDSAN), whose mission is to ensure that every child born with Down syndrome has the opportunity to grow up in a loving family.

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Links and Resources

National Down Syndrome Adoption Network

Resources for Patients

New & Expectant parent information  

NDSAN video for new & expectant parents

List of local Down syndrome parent groups 

Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parent’s Guide

Resources for Medical Professionals

Delivering a Down syndrome diagnosis

Additional Resources for Medical Professionals

Stephanie’s blog post on the Grey Genetics News Corner: Adoption as an Option: The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network

Stephanie’s interview on The Lucky Few podcast: Adoption & Down Syndrome w/Stephanie Thompson from the NDSAN

Connect with NDSAN on Social Media:

NDSAN on Instagram: @ndsan321

NDSAN on Twitter: @dsadoption

NDSAN on Facebook

NDSAN on LinkedIn

“National Council on Disability Recommends More Regulation of NIPT.” Genome Web, October 23, 2019. 

Genetic Testing and the Rush to Perfection, National Council on Disability, October 23, 2019.

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