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. Have thoughts or a related story you’d like to share? Leave us a short voice message here! We may use your message on a future show. 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. Donate to Patient Stories Leave us a review on iTunes Patient Stories on Twitter: @GreyGeneticsPod Patient Stories on Instagram: @patientstoriespodcast Patient Stories is sponsored by Grey Genetics, an independent telehealth genetic counseling and consulting company. Book an appointment with a genetic counselor specialized in your area of concern. All genetic counseling appointments take place over secure, HIPAA-compliant video-conferencing or by phone.