Throughout the time period a person is raising a child with Down syndrome, there will be a need for various resources. The nature of these resources will change over time. Early on, a parent will need access to information about early intervention, medical care and issues, disability coverage and other issues pertaining to raising a child with Down syndrome. As time passes the needs change to the need for information on employment opportunities for people with Down syndrome, assisted living centers, and medical care for the aging person with Down syndrome. The internet can be a wealth of information for everyone but it can be overwhelming and leave the parent with the feeling of not knowing where to start or where to look first. There are many other resources that can be overlooked when it comes to research but are valuable for learning about Down syndrome. Important and helpful resources can be divided in categories that include internet resources, books to read, and associations and foundations.

The internet is a wealth of information and can be extremely helpful for parents who are initially navigating the maze of information regarding Down syndrome. There are many informational websites but it is difficult to know if the information on any given site is correct. Kids Health (www.kidshealth.org) is a website that is easily navigated and has current information. Another well-known website with a lot of good updated information is Wikipedia, which is another .org-based site. Medline Plus is an additional website with good information that is easy to understand and to put into use. Anyone researching Down syndrome on the internet can use their search engine whether it is yahoo, Google, or anything else and follow the links that are derived from the search. It is important to be specific in the searches and to compare all of the information in order to discover any discrepancies.

There are many books that have been written about Down syndrome and raising children with this particular disease. If the local bookstores do not carry the books, they can usually order anything that is still in print. The local library is another good source for books and they can also typically order books that they do not have in stock as long as they are still in print. Most libraries also have a loan system where they can borrow books from each other. The top five books recently listed by the National Down Syndrome Association are: 1) Sometimes Miracles Hide by Bruce Carroll, 2) Babies with Down Syndrome by Karen Stray-Gunderson, 3) Communication Skills in Children with Down Syndrome by Libby Kumin, 4) Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome by Maryanne Bruni, and 5) Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome by Patricia C. Winders.

There are many associations and foundations that serve as resources for both people raising children with Down syndrome as well as the people with Down syndrome themselves. Most states have their own Down syndrome associations as well as state and local support groups. The internet can be a good place to locate these groups and information regarding where and when they meet. Other groups include the National Association for Down Syndrome, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the National Down Syndrome Congress. In addition, there is the Down Syndrome Foundation and Down Syndrome International.