Every day, the specialists at the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation work with parents who are worried about the future of their intellectually disabled children.

“Are there learning methods that meet my child’s needs? ”

“Are there specialized programs that care for Trisomy 21 patients? ”

“What will happen to my child when I’m gone? ”

The Jérôme Lejeune Foundation helps answer these questions by providing resources for families, caregivers, and professionals working with the intellectually disabled. We offer counseling and tools—guides, newsletters, exhibits and more—as well as lectures, debates and other events. We’ve set up a specialized education team to meet growing demand from the parents and teachers who educate the intellectually disabled and help them find jobs.

We also support the creation of Jérôme Lejeune classes around the world and are funding efforts by like-minded groups with ties to genetic intellectual disabilities (see box). Our goal is to bring families and healthcare professionals together in a genuine support network.

Toward that end, the Foundation funds and expands projects launched by families and associations.

These include:

• creating support networks, respite care resources, and sports groups;

• organizing concerts and exhibits;

• buying and creating educational tools and other resources.

We’ve also produced a parent’s guide to raising children with Trisomy 21 in France. Designed for families with children up to seven years old and drafted by some 30 experienced parents, the guide offers practical advice on maximizing child learning and making daily life easier.

Finally, the Foundation has published a French-language guide to Trisomy 21 distilling the expertise of doctors at the Jérôme Lejeune Institute into answers and tips for families and their support networks.