What is the Down syndrome learning profile?
Published: Dec. 17, 2025Updated: Apr. 17, 2026
Sue Buckley, a psychologist and a leading expert in education and development for young people with Down syndrome, created a widely referenced Down syndrome learning profile.
These are the main takeaways:
- Since social skills are a relative strength for individuals with Down syndrome, they will often attempt to solve other problems using these skills.
- While the learning challenges for kids with DS are often related to working memory, auditory and short-term memory present the most challenges. However, stimulating the visual memory can help students access long-term learning.
- While reading is often a strength for children with DS, they are likely to need 1:1 intensive reading instruction.
- They often need visuals and manipulatives to learn math.
For more information, see our full article Supporting a Child with Down Syndrome at School
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