In the early 20th century, children with DS rarely lived until the age of 9. Until recently, until 1983, the average life span of a person with DS was 25 years. Today due to the developments in treatment, the majority of the people with DS are expected to live until the age of 60. Some of them may live much longer. The first ageing signs appear in people with DS in their late thirties. In addition, little has been studied scientifically on issues about parenting the individuals with ageing DS. Because this is relatively a new phenomenon. This leads families of the people with DS and those who take care and educate them to face new situations in terms of their physical, social and psychological structures. The ageing process may also bring along unexpected troubles in which the families and caretakers of the individuals with DS do not feel themselves ready to experience. Experiential guidance resources and studies on how these groups can manage those new situations are not sufficient and qualified yet. It is important to be pro-active ( doing something already for the future) and learn about the issues to experience in the future in order to enjoy all the beauties of a longer life. The adults with DS, their families and professionals need the right information and education about the issues that the ageing process would bring so that they may get ready for a successful ageing process.
Based on the conducted needs analysis and considering the objectives of the 2020 Europe Strategy, AWARDS project was prepared. The specific objective of the project is "to improve the competences of families and professionals of the adults with Down Syndrome to gain their skills of autonomy and increase their life quality through innovative training methods in order to reinforce active and well-ageing of them ". The target group of the project is the people with DS over 30 years old, the families of the people with DS and the professional staff in training and caring of the people with DS. When the specific objective of the project is achieved, it will contribute to the general objective of the project, "Achieving a harmonious society and inclusive growth in Europe".
The specific objective of the project will be achieved by reaching two different project results with a series of activities to be implemented and outputs from them. These results and theactivities to reach these results are planned as the following.
RESULT A- Improving the competence of families and professionals with the adults with DS to gain their skills of autonomy in order to reinforce active and well-ageing of the adults with DS.
Activity A1- Creating "Skills and Interests Test for Adults With DS" for accurate professional and social orientation of the adults with DS.
Activity A2- Developing “ Multimedia Training Tool for Healthy Nutrition” for adults with DS.
Activity A3- Developing “ Multimedia Training Tool for Physical Exercises and Sports Training” for adults with DS.
Activity A4- Creating "Vocational Education, Employment and Social Participation Training Module” for the families and professionals of the adults with DS.
RESULT B- Improving the competences of families and professionals of the adults with Down Syndrome to increase their life quality in order to reinforce active and well-ageing of the
adults with DS.
Activity B1- Creating "Sexual Health and Sexual Education Module for Adults With DS" for the families and professionals of the people with DS.
Activity B2- Creating "Health Protection Training Module for Adults With DS" for the families and professionals of the people with DS.
Activity B3- Creating an e-learning platform to reinforce the education materials and skills and interest tests.
Activity B4- Organizing adult trainers’ training activities of AWARDS project training modules.
Activity B5- Pilot training activities of AWARDS project training modules in partner countries.
Activity B6- Organizing “Active and Well-Aging in People With Down Syndrome Conference and Concert Programme”
The competences of the families and professionals of the adults with DS will be achieved in order to equip the adults with Down Syndrome with knowledge and skills in professional, technical, social or cultural fields, to bring them to life and to support them to become productive individuals. With the project products and results obtained within the scope of the project, the active and well-ageing will be reinforced by increasing the social inclusion of the adults with Down Syndrome.
