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Volume 5, Issue 8(Suppl) J Nurs Care 2016
ISSN: 2167-1168 JNC, an open access journal
Page 34
Notes:
Euro Nursing 2016
October 17-19, 2016
conferenceseries.com
15th Euro Nursing & Medicare Summit
October 17-19, 2016 Rome, Italy
The role of parents in educating learners with Down syndrome successfully: A narrative journey
Susette Brynard
University of the Free State, South Africa
The aim of the paper is to illustrate the important role that parents can play in the education of learners with Down
syndrome (DS). A literature review was done to obtain background information on the concept DS and on the history
and possibilities of education for learners with DS, as well as on the role of the parent in the education of learners with DS. A
qualitative case study, focusing on the narrative approach was implemented to illustrate the management of the educational
opportunities and thus, the self-fulfillment of all learners with DS. The educational history of an academically successful girl
with DS was followed in order to establish what lay behind her success. From the findings it can be deduced that parents and
educators should collaborate to enhance the educational opportunities of learners with DS. The contribution this paper makes
is to convey to educators and parents the important role they can play in the advancement of the education of learners with
DS, as a possible way to give these learners a better chance to live a meaningful life. The assumption is that if learners with
DS receive optimal stimulation and encouragement from their parents and teachers in collaboration with one another, from
an early age, their educational skills and self-fulfillment will benefit to a large extent. This will improve their opportunities to
become valued human beings.
Biography
Susette Brynard is currently a lecturer in Education Management at the University Free State, South Africa. Previously she was Head of the Department Natural
Sciences, Bloemfontein College of Education. She was born in South Africa and graduated at the University Free State to receive a B. Sc.-degree. While lecturing
Biology at an Education College she commenced her studies at the University of the Free State, where she received the B Ed (honors) and M Ed Degrees Cum
Laude and then her Ph.D. She received numerous awards during her studies and published two papers on the Education and development of Down syndrome
learners. She has been involved in creating opportunities for Down syndrome children and provided support for parents and families with Down syndrome children
for many years. She is doing ground-breaking work on the role of parents in the education of Down syndrome learners.
Susette Brynard, J Nurs Care 2016, 5:8(Suppl)